AIMS

'Open Access and Development: journals and beyond' a report review

In a recent publication, the Institute of Developmental Studies (IDS-UK) explores the links between Open Access and Development within the traditional models of scholarly communication and potential uses of open access in the context of the developing world.

Objectives 

The objective of this report is three-pronged, the first is to provide an understanding of the general status and models of Open Access publishing. The second is to explore the links between Open Access and development, and the third is to make recommendations for taking forward Open Access advocacy in developing countries.To achieve these objectives, the following research methods were used - desk research, interviews, country case studies and email based consultations.
 

Case studies

This report, therefore, presents the nature of Open Access and Development through the lens of three country case studies, which are;
  • India – The case builds upon the link between education as a constitutional right and access to educational materials. Open access activities are recommended to buttress this right and focus more on social sciences and humanities.
  • South Africa – the study focused on how Open Access movements have looked beyond peer-reviewed journal publishing models through channeling public funds to support Open Access. Examples include the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) channeling funds into supporting the availability of publication of educational materials on Open Access.
  • Brazil -  The case study documents efforts by national government and libraries to work together to advance the OA movement. Infrastructural and institutional entities contributing to Open Access are reviewed, these include, the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCiELO) and Red de Revistas Científicas de América Latina y el Caribe.

This study calls upon researchers in the south to publish on open access, advocate for more funding from their governments  and to lobby for the inclusion of new  metrics. Further, the study calls upon the setting up of new sustainable models in Open Access publishing relevant to developing countries.

Read more at http://www.ids.ac.uk/files/dmfile/OpenAccessandDevelopmentJournalsandBeyond_Nov2012_Gray_et_al.pdf

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