Development of Open Education and Open Science

1. Development of Open Education and Open Science

In the context of the historical development of open science, at the beginning of the 2000s, three key declarations were adopted that defined the principles of open access and initiated a global movement of openness. These are the Budapest Open Access Initiative  (2002), which laid the foundations for free access to peer-reviewed publications, the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003), and the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003). Together, these declarations promoted the idea that scientific knowledge, especially that funded by public funds, should be available to everyone, thereby encouraging transparency, collaboration, and faster scientific progress.

The Budapest Open Access Initiative, published in February 2002, is considered the foundational document of open science. It set the first widely accepted definition of open access, emphasising the importance of free availability of peer-reviewed scientific publications on the internet, with the possibility of reading, downloading, copying, distributing, and printing. The initiative promoted two main paths to open access: the "green path" (archiving in repositories) and the "gold path" (publishing in open-access journals).

In June 2003, the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing followed. This statement, originating from the biomedical sector, further elaborated on the technical and legal aspects of open access. It particularly emphasized that authors must retain copyrights and grant permission for the use of their work, including the creation of derivative works, and that works must be stored in publicly accessible online repositories.

Finally, the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, published in October 2003, expanded the concept of open access beyond publications alone. It encompassed all forms of scientific knowledge, including raw data, metadata, software tools, and multimedia materials. The Berlin Declaration called upon research institutions, funders, and governments to actively support and implement open access principles, recognising it as a key element for the global knowledge base. Together, these three declarations, often referred to as the "BBB definition" of open access, set solid foundations for the development of the global open access movement, promoting transparency, collaboration, and the dissemination of knowledge.

Two key declarations for open education are the Cape Town Open Education Declaration (2008) and the UNESCO 2012 Paris OER Declaration (2012).

The Cape Town Declaration calls for the free use, adaptation, and sharing of educational resources, emphasising the participation of educators and students and the encouragement of open policies. It was published on 22 January 2008, and represents a strong call to action for promoting Open Educational Resources (OER) and practices. Its fundamental idea is that everyone should have the freedom to use, adapt, improve, and redistribute educational materials without restrictions.