Readiness towards the implementation of open science initiatives in the Malaysian Comprehensive Public Universities

This research explored the readiness towards the implementation of open science initiatives in the Malaysian Comprehensive Public Universities; both quantitative and qualitative research methods were implemented. The survey questionnaire was distributed to the academic researchers and library professionals from the selected universities and a semi-structured interview was conducted with the heads of the libraries together with their deputies to complement the first method. The findings indicate that the public universities in the country were partially involved with open science, even though the term is still new to most of the participants. The Institutional Repository is the commonly known means through which these universities promote and practice open science, although only 10% to 30% of the contents were made available to the general public. However, these institutions are currently working on implementing a policy on how to operate and fully engage other aspects of the open science practices, such as open data, open collaboration, open innovation, and the likes.