DIOSI

The DIOSI project proposed a full-cycle concept for doctoral education, from the development of a new joint doctoral educational programme, through the provision of training on Open Science and Open Innovation & Entrepreneurship for doctoral candidates and early career researchers (DCs and ECRs), to the measurement of the impact of such training, by creating an impact and graduate tracking framework.

First, in order to integrate skills training into PhD programmes and to value training in transferable skills as equitable to research skills, a DIOSI model for doctoral education was developed.

Second, in order to tackle skills shortages in terms of innovation and entrepreneurship skills of researchers and the need for a culture shift towards Open Science, training on Open Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Open Science was provided for DCs and ECRs. The project funded train-the-trainer sessions to build capacity and expertise and took the existing offerings to the next level. Each newly formed trainer then ran a pilot session at their home institution. During the project, up to 900 DCs and ECRs benefited from the training.

Third, in order to understand the impact of such training, a joint impact and graduate tracking framework was implemented.

The project was coordinated by UNIVERSITEIT ANTWERPEN, with OpenScienceLab UC3M participating as a key partner.

1. Develop a comprehensive DIOSI model for doctoral education that integrates transferable skills into PhD programs, valuing them equally alongside research expertise.
2. Enhance training opportunities in Open Innovation & Entrepreneurship (OI&E) and Open Science (OS) for doctoral candidates (DCs) and early career researchers (ECRs) to address skills shortages and prepare them for the non-academic labor market.
3. Provide “Train the Trainer” sessions to build a sustainable network of qualified trainers within participating institutions, ensuring the continuity of high-quality training.
4. Foster a cultural shift in academia towards Open Science practices by increasing awareness and engagement among researchers.
5. Develop a joint impact and graduate tracking framework to measure the short- and long-term effects of training on participants’ careers and the broader academic community.
6. Improve doctoral education by integrating innovative training models and increasing the professional development of staff involved in the project.
7. Strengthen the international profile of participating institutions by enhancing their ability to offer innovative training and fostering mobility for DCs within the DIOSI network.
8. Disseminate best practices across Europe to influence other institutions and university networks, promoting the development of doctoral education models focused on Open Science and Open Innovation & Entrepreneurship.