Security issues are a new perspective in the practices of open science and research. Polamk has both a higher education institution role and a police unit role, and the operating model takes into account the constraints on openness set by the police unit role.
The national declaration on open science and research for higher education institutions was recently confirmed for the period 2025–2030, and Polamk is one of many Finnish research organizations that have signed the declaration. The declaration pays particular attention to the rapidly changing geopolitical environment and the security concerns that have emerged as a result.
Changes in the operating environment at Polamk also require a review of the principles and practices of open science. From a research security perspective, for example, it must be ensured that research activities do not compromise the safety of individuals, society, or the organization. Openness and security support each other, but there may be tensions between them that need to be identified and managed.
Due to Polamk’s dual role as a higher education institution and a police unit, it is especially important to compile the principles and practices of openness into a practical operating model, according to Juha-Matti Huhta, Head of RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) and Chief Superintendent.
– Our operating model for open science and research covers all functions of Polamk and examines openness from the perspectives of organizational culture, data, methods, publishing, and learning connected to research. In the model, we take into account our dual role, and in Polamk’s role as a police unit, security sets specific boundaries for openness that guide our activities, Huhta states.
The planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of open science measures have been integrated into Polamk’s quality management system, says Terhi Kankaanranta, Chair of the Open Science and Research Working Group and Senior Researcher.
– With the tools of the quality system, we identify how openness is realized in different areas of Polamk’s operations and where new solutions or reinforcements are needed. The development of our activities is also supported by a national monitoring exercise currently underway for research organizations. This monitoring, conducted every few years, verifies how the goals of the national declaration and policy guidelines are being achieved at Polamk, Kankaanranta explains.
