Open Access
Open Access enhances scholarly communication by making the results of publicly funded research available to all.
Why Open Access?
Opening the knowledge base to all means more researchers can build on it and there is less duplication of effort. Researchers can reach a greater audience and find that their work is more widely read and cited, institutions gain an enhanced reputation as their research becomes more visible, funding agencies see a greater return on their investment, and publishers find that the impact of their journals increases. JISC has been at the forefront of the Open Access debate from the very beginning
As a result, publicly-funded research has more impact and society as a whole benefits.
JISC has been at the forefront of the Open Access debate from the very beginning. In the UK it is supporting institutions in the move to greater Open Access by funding programmes to build and enhance institutional Open Access repositories. It is helping researchers to use those repositories more effectively, and making it easier for them to do so through technology. JISC is also working with publishers to explore new business models for Open Access scholarly communications. Internationally, JISC is engaging with the wider academic research community and with policy-makers to transform attitudes towards Open Access within Europe and beyond.
JISC Open Access vision
Open Access is free online access to the outputs of publicly funded research. It is typically focused on peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers.
Open Access benefits UK research, by increasing its impact and enabling researchers to use any such outputs they might need for their work.
Open Access benefits the UK economy by enabling innovation, policy and practice better to draw from rigorous academic research.
JISC strongly supports Open Access and encourages authors to publish in Open Access journals, self-archive their articles in repositories, or both.
JISC acknowledges that there are reasons why Open Access has not become universal, and that cultural change, policy development, technical infrastructure and sustainable business models are all needed in a transition to Open Access.
Open Access is part of a broader move toward more 'open' approaches in higher and further education. JISC supports the development and sharing of Open Educational Resources, is exploring open Open Access to monographs, and promotes open data where appropriate, allowing for complex issues (for example, of consent).
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How Open Access benefits researchers and research institutions and read JISC research |
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How Open Access benefits publishers institutions and read JISC research |
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How Open Access benefits the UK institutions and read JISC research about the business case for Open Access |
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JISC has published a wealth of research looking into the opportunities offered by Open Access. See summaries and the full reports |
Watch & listen to our podcasts and videos on open access
Read our publications on open access
Video: Malcolm Read on promoting the Open Access agenda
Duration (0.33)
Podcast: Open Access – Harvard’s success story with Robert Darnton
In October 2008 Harvard University in the US adopted an open access policy for all its research papers to be made available in their university repository, in an opt out basis. This podcast discusses the cultural change that is taking place at Harvard.
Listen to the podcast (Duration 23:12)
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"The Medical Research Council (MRC) is committed to advancing and disseminating knowledge and technology and to promote dialogue with the public about medical research. The MRC policy is that all primary research publications should be made publicly available within 6 months of publication. As part of our ongoing support for MRC authors in ensuring compliance with the policy, whether it be publishing costs or copyright, we are encouraged to see JISC developing robust guidelines which will broaden the range of opportunities for quality research to be widely and freely accessed."
Tony Peatfield, MRC Director of Corporate Affairs |
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"The European Commission (EC) has supported Open Access in a variety of ways, for example by investing in a repositories infrastructure and by piloting in the seventh Framework programme a policy requiring researchers to make their research outputs open. The EC works with national partners wherever possible, and we have worked closely with JISC in the UK on Open Access. In the UK, JISC has clearly played a leading role in shaping the debate on this issue, and in enabling UK universities exploit the opportunities offered by new technologies. The European Commission welcomes JISC's work on Open Access and looks forward to a continued strong relationship in this and other areas."
Kostas Glinos, Head of Unit INFSO/F3 - Géant and e-Infrastructures |
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"Over the past 10 years the JISC has played a vital role in shaping the debate surrounding scholarly communications. From invaluable evidence-gathering studies through practical projects and support for all flavours of open access, the work of the JISC has placed the UK in a leading position internationally in the wide dissemination and use of research outputs"
David Prosser, SPARC Europe |
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JISC has been a leader in Open Access policy, advocacy, initiatives, and services. Many programs in Australia have benefited from the directions set by the JISC, and the JISC has proved a effective instrument for international collaboration.
Adrian Burton, Australian National Data Service |