Open access and the next REF | Steve's Blog

" ... The problem with open access is that the publishers are in effect being asked to make publications available to anyone with access to the internet, without charge. Publishers are businesses like any other, and thus need revenue to stay in business. Since the ‘reader’ does not pay, the only other means to raise revenue is to charge the author for open access. Again, this is a significant amount of money.  The outcome however is that anyone logging on to the journal webpage can click on a link and download the publication. This is known as 'gold open access' as recommended in the Finch report. An alternative, much cheaper mechanism is 'green access' where the final, accepted version of the manuscript (not the typeset version) is available on a  local publication repository – such as we have at NU. A very important recent development is the publication of a policy on open access by HEFCE which will have dramatic implications for the next REF ... Fortunately, the policy will only apply to journal articles and conference proceedings accepted for publication after 1st April 2016. There is no immediate issue therefore, but we need to get our act together rather quickly nonetheless. The Dean of Research will be working with the Research Committee to figure out the best way to ensure compliance with this policy well before the deadline ..."