The NMIMS Open Asia Administrative team comprising of Ms. Meena Saxena – Director & Ms. Shweta Patil Manager, both from Department of International Linkages and Mr. Dhyey Doshi -Dy Finance Manager recently participated in the EU Second Consortium Meeting of the “Open ASIA: Boosting Engagement of HEIs in Open Science in India and Malaysia” .The Project meeting was hosted by Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 21st & 22nd October. Duration of the project –January 2024 – January 2027.
25+ Participants from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Tampere University, International School for Social and Business Studies (ISSBS), European Policy Development and Research Institute (EPDRI), Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, NMIMS, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak & Universiti Malaysia Sabah participated in the project meeting.
Day 1: Monday, 21 October 2024
The first day focused on reviewing the progress of the Open ASIA project, along with updates from the involved organizations. Key discussions covered:
- Project Management: Ms. Meena Saxena who leads this package (WP1) provided an overview of WP related to the Project website, Institutional websites and Project brand book.
- Open Science Curriculum: Examination of both formal and informal curriculum developments discussion was led by Dr. Nada Trunk and Dr. Valerij Dermol, Professor at ISSBS. Discussions focussed on credit bearing & certificate courses timelines, course content, no of credits, challenges of introducing the formal courses by fall 2025 and more.
- Regulatory Framework: Dr. Maninder Singh Professor and Dean of Academic affairs Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology provided Insight into the evolving regulations that will support Open Science in participating regions. Each of the partner countries shared the challenges in their respective countries
- Communication and Dissemination Strategy: Professor Shaliza Ibrahim Universiti Malaya (UM) Associate Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) led the discussion on current efforts by the partners to increase visibility and engagement with Open Science initiatives. Ms Meena Saxena shared the efforts made by NMIMS towards promoting the project nationally and within the university. Dr. Olesea clearly spelt out the expectations from the partners.
Day 2: Tuesday, 22 October 2024
The second day Project Co- Coordinator Dr. Olesea Sirbu addressed the project’s financial and quality metrics, ensuring strong outcomes and sustainable impact. Key topics included:
- Financial Management: Detailed presentation on budgeting and resource allocation.
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance: Measures to maintain high standards in project outputs.
- Exploitation and Multiplier Activities: Strategies to maximize project reach and applicability.
- Sustainability and Impact Maximization: Plans for extending the project’s influence beyond its initial scope to foster long-term benefits for higher education institutions in India and Malaysia.
Dr. Sadlapur, Head Dept. of Library & Information Science virtually presented an overview of the Proposed NMIMS International Conference on Open Science in May 2025 with the objective of getting support from the project partners toward expert speakers and submission of research papers.
Universiti Malaya organised a Cultural Visit to the Museum of Asian Art, located on the main campus. The museum aims to foster an appreciation of Asian art among Malaysia’s diverse communities and houses nearly 7,000 artifacts representing cultures from across Asia, spanning 4,000 years of history. In its 1,500-square-foot gallery space, the museum showcases the artistic, cultural, and intellectual heritage of Asia, including Chinese pottery, Hindu sculptures, textiles from the Malaya archipelago, and sacred masks from the Orang Asli communities.
Additionally, Universiti Malaya organized a Visit to Art Exhibition titled “Visionary Journeys Art Exhibition,” running from 14 October to 14 November 2024. The exhibition, a collaborative effort between the University of Malaya Art Gallery (UMAG), Hear2Art exhibitors, and the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), raises funds to support MAB. The exhibition features various art genres, including vibrant floral scenes, landscapes, abstract works, and intricate bird-themed artworks, some of which were created by visually impaired students.
The meeting marked an important step in fortifying Open Science practices in the region, fostering collaborations that aim for sustained academic and research excellence.
