In this blog post, Michael Meagher, Project Manager on the ‘Managing Open Source Software in Irish Universities’ (MOSS-I) project led by Lero’s Dr Patrick Healy (University of Limerick) summarises a recent workshop.
The MOSS-I Project aims to become an enabler for open-source and open science initiatives across Ireland. Hosted by Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software at the University of Limerick, our first face-to-face workshop was held on February 20, 2024, representing a key step forward in shaping the future of Open Source Software (OSS) policy development within the academic setting in Ireland.
Lero, renowned for its excellence in software research, bridges expert software teams from universities and institutes of technology across Ireland, fostering a coordinated centre of research excellence with a strong industry focus. It’s within this hub of innovation that the MOSS-I Project finds its home, aiming to develop a comprehensive framework and guide for drafting OSS policies tailored specifically to the unique needs and contexts of Irish universities.
Attendees, a mix of thinkers and doers from various universities across Ireland, focused on identifying essential questions and considerations to guide OSS policy development within academic settings. The enthusiasm and innovative energy in the room were clearly visible, reflecting the group’s commitment to transforming educational and research landscapes through the use of OSS.
Photo provided by Lero. From left to right:
- Paddy Healy, Project Lead and UL Head of Department Computer Science and Information Systems
- Ian Gallivan, Commercialisation Executive, University of Galway Technology Transfer Office
- Clare Dillon, Lero PhD student and MOSS-I researcher
- Michael Meagher, Project Manager, MOSS-I project
- Martina Prendergast Lero International Funding Manager
- Carlos Tighe, Research Associate, SFI INSIGHT Centre
- Aoife Tierney, IP Development Manager Trinity College Dublin.
The workshop focused on key areas in order to aid the crafting of an effective OSS policy for universities, drawing from international benchmarks and addressing unique academic challenges from an Irish context. The outputs will deliver guidance in the following areas while leveraging international best practices in the following areas which will make up the framework/guide;
- OSS Introduction in Academia: Explaining OSS’s role, benefits in an academic settings.
- OSS Policy Key Principles: Ensuring OSS policy alignment with university goals.
- OSS Policy Core Elements: Offering detailed guidance on OSS practices, stakeholder identification, and roles.
- Policy Implementation through education and incentives along with monitoring of adoption: Advocating for educational support and promotion of OSS best practices.
- Policy Review and Update: Maintaining policy relevance with regular assessments.
- Resources and Case Studies: Sharing of guides, groups and academic advocates, highlighting existing and upcoming European regulations, maturity models, and showcasing diverse OSS case studies in academia within Ireland.
The MOSS-I Workshop represents a leap towards fostering a culture of sharing, innovation, and collaboration in academia through OSS. With the next milestone set for external feedback in NUI Galway on March 20th 2024 where it will coincide with a public Open Source event.
The MOSS-I Project, hosted by Lero at the University of Limerick, is more than just a policy development initiative; it’s a movement towards weaving open source principles into the fabric of academic pursuit. As the project evolves, it aims to ensure that education and research not only benefit from implementing an OSS policy but also contribute to its growth and sustainability.
For more information on the MOSS-I Project, including details on its aims, project leads, and collaborators, and to stay updated on its progress, please visit MOSS-I Project Details. This initiative stands as a testament to the potential of OSS in transforming educational and research landscapes, promising a future where academia and open source software grow hand in hand.
