Why open access is the future of academic publishing

Academic publishing is undergoing a profound transformation. Open access is no longer just an alternative—it’s becoming the future. With the traditional paywalled model proving to be a barrier to knowledge access, open access is breaking down walls and fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency in research. But what is open access, and why is it shaping the direction of academic publishing? This blog will explore the benefits of open access publishing, trends in the industry, and how open access journals and books are revolutionising the dissemination of scholarly work.

What is open access?

Open access (OA) refers to a publishing model where research outputs – articles, books, and data—are available online free of charge to anyone with an internet connection. Unlike traditional publishing models, which require subscriptions or pay-per-view fees, open access promotes unfettered public access to scholarly knowledge. The goal is simple: knowledge should be a shared resource, not a commodity.

Benefits of open access publishing

The benefits of open-access publishing extend across the academic ecosystem – researchers, institutions, and the broader public all stand to gain. Open access:

• Broadens the reach of research: By removing paywalls, research can be accessed by anyone, anywhere. This democratises knowledge and ensures wider dissemination of findings.
• Boosts visibility and citations: Numerous studies indicate an open access citation advantage, where freely accessible articles are cited more frequently than their paywalled counterparts.
• Saves costs for institutions: Universities and libraries, especially those in low-income regions, are no longer burdened with exorbitant subscription fees for access to academic journals.
• Complies with funding mandates: Many funding bodies, such as National Research Foundation (NRF) mandates that all publicly funded research outputs must be deposited in an open access repository and made freely available.
• Promotes collaboration: Open access fosters interdisciplinary research and encourages collaboration by making findings readily available to other teams.

The growing popularity of open access

Over the past decade, the shift towards open access has accelerated. Researchers, publishers, and policymakers are rallying behind the cause as the shortcomings of traditional publishing become increasingly stark. Below are some of the significant academic publishing trends contributing to the rise of open access.

Academic publishing trends driving open access

1. Mandates and policies: Government bodies and research funders are setting mandates that champion open-access publishing as a requirement for grant recipients. The National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa, for example, mandates that all research outputs funded by the NRF be deposited in an open-access repository and made freely accessible, ensuring that South African research has a global reach. Read: https://www.nrf.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/NRF-Open-Access-Statement.pdf
2. Emergence of preprint repositories: Platforms like arXiv, bioRxiv, and SSRN have normalised the sharing of pre-peer-reviewed research, accelerating the availability of scientific findings.
3. Adoption of gold and green open access models:
   • Gold open access ensures the published version of an article is freely accessible immediately on the publisher’s site. Some journals bundle this with Article Processing Charges (APCs), often covered by authors or funders.
   • Green open access allows authors to archive a copy of their work in institutional repositories or personal websites, making it accessible independently of the journal’s access policies.
4. Technological advances: New digital tools and platforms have made it easier to disseminate and discover open-access content. Indexing by Google Scholar and platforms like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) ensures that open access content is as visible as possible.
5. Public demand: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of making life-saving research publicly accessible, increasing public awareness and demand for open-access solutions.

Open-access journals and books

The proliferation of open-access journals and books is central to the success of the model. These platforms provide a vehicle for researchers to share their discoveries while offering readers unrestricted access.

Open access journals
Open-access journals offer key advantages:

• Inclusivity: Researchers from developing countries can easier access the latest findings without financial obstacles.
• Community-driven publishing: Many open access journals are founded and managed by academic communities, ensuring the focus remains on quality and accessibility rather than profit.

Open access books
Scholarly books, too, are joining the open-access revolution. Open-access books from platforms like OAPEN and Knowledge Unlatched are transforming the way long-form scholarship is accessed:

• Enhanced reach: Open-access books often reach more readers globally compared to their traditional counterparts.
• Support for education: Freely available textbooks reduce costs for students, levelling the academic playing field.

The open access visibility advantage

Perhaps one of the most compelling arguments for researchers to consider open access is the increased visibility it enjoys. Articles published in open-access journals are often accessed, read and cited more frequently than those behind paywalls. Here’s why:

• Immediate access: Researchers can immediately engage with open access articles without waiting for institutional access or paying extra fees.
• Global reach: Open access makes knowledge available to researchers in resource-poor countries, enabling their participation in global scholarly dialogue.
• Social media amplification: Freely available research is widely shared on platforms like BlueSky, X, LinkedIn, and ResearchGate – further boosting exposure and citations.

Challenges and the road ahead

Despite its many advantages, open access is not without challenges. Discussions about how to fund open access publishing sustainably remain ongoing. While Article Processing Charges (APCs) are common in the Gold model, questions around inclusivity for underfunded researchers persist.

Nonetheless, the continued innovation in publishing platforms, along with collaborative frameworks like Plan S, promises a more sustainable system. Increasing institutional and governmental support for open access initiatives will pave the way for its widespread adoption.

Why open access must lead the future of academic publishing

Open access is not just a passing trend, it’s the future of academic publishing. It aligns with the ideals of modern research by prioritising accessibility, equity, and societal impact over profit. For researchers, it increases visibility and engagement. For institutions, it lightens the financial burden of expensive journal subscriptions. And for the public, it transforms research outcomes into accessible solutions to real problems.

The data is conclusive, and the momentum is undeniable—open access is no longer optional; it’s essential for creating a more inclusive and impactful academic landscape.

The next steps

Researchers, publishers, and policymakers all have a role in advancing the open access movement:

• Researchers: Publish your work in open access journals or as books wherever possible and advocate for institutional support in covering APCs.
• Publishers: Explore innovative funding models to reduce costs and increase accessibility without compromising quality.
• Institutions: Provide robust repositories for Green open access and participate in consortia to advocate for better publishing agreements.

At AOSIS, our mission is to unlock knowledge to the world. As a leading open access publisher, we are committed to breaking down barriers and making high-quality academic research available to everyone, everywhere. We believe that knowledge should be freely accessible, empowering individuals and driving worldwide progress.

The future of knowledge is open and collaborative. It’s time to fully embrace open access as the driving force in academic publishing, and in doing so, create a system that serves the needs of everyone.

Ready to take the next step?

• Browse our collection of open-access journals and consider submitting your next article to join the global movement for accessible research.
• Already have a closed journal? Fill in our form to find out how you can transition your publication to open access and reach a wider audience.
• Interested in publishing a book? Download our book proposal form and be part of the future of open, scholarly publishing.

About AOSIS

AOSIS is a leading open-access publisher of scholarly journals and books. We are committed to promoting scholarly research and facilitating knowledge sharing through our high-quality, peer-reviewed publications.