More than 90 participants from research and educational institutions across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region took part, on 16 February 2026, to the online Workshop on Open Science Policy Writing, organized by SESAME and ASREN (Arab States Research and Education Network) as part of the EUMEDplus project
The workshop combined strategic insights, international policy perspectives, and practical guidance on drafting Open Science policies aligned with the FAIR principles, reinforcing regional commitment to transparency, collaboration, and sustainable scientific practices, with distinguished speakers and key thematic sessions, included in the agenda:
- Welcome & Overview of Open Science at EUMEDplus – Raed Al-Zoubi (ASREN)
- SESAME as an Applied Model for Open Science – Mustafa Alzu’bi (SESAME)
- UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science – Rania Sabo (UNESCO)
- Policy Writing Overview – Salman Matalgah (SESAME)
- Open Science Enablers: Tools & DOI – Malik AlMohammad (SESAME)
The workshop highlighted the growing regional demand for Open Science frameworks and their positive impact on research quality, accessibility, and global scientific collaboration, strengthening the region’s contribution to the worldwide research community.
SESAME is a practical and leading regional model for implementing Open Science concepts and perspectives, demonstrating how transparent data management, open access practices, and FAIR-aligned policies can be effectively integrated within a research infrastructure to enhance collaboration, reproducibility, and scientific impact.
By providing the normative framework of the 2021 Recommendation on Open Science, UNESCO guides institutions in developing policies, capacities, and infrastructures that help align regional initiatives with internationally agreed principles and strengthen science–society connections. UNESCO’s contribution to the workshop underscores its global leadership in advancing Open Science. enable open access, FAIR data, and inclusive participation.
The strong collaboration with ASREN has significantly complemented SESAME’s Open Science journey. Through this partnership, SESAME has successfully implemented and adopted Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) in collaboration with DataCite, and is advancing the integration of ORCID as part of its ongoing digital development efforts. These initiatives represent important milestones toward strengthening SESAME’s commitment to Open Science principles and enhancing the visibility, traceability, and impact of its research outputs.
ASREN and SESAME cooperation is strategically important for moving forward regional efforts to establish and strengthen Open Science principles and practices.