Updated version of the “How Equitable Is It?” tool for assessing equity in scholarly communication models | Plan S

"The “How Equitable Is It?” tool, designed to assess the equity of scholarly communication models, has been officially launched today in its updated version following a comprehensive review of community feedback. Originally introduced as a beta version in September 2024 at the OASPA conference, this refined version of the tool incorporates significant improvements based on input from across the scholarly publishing ecosystem.

Developed by a multi-stakeholder Working Group, comprising librarians, library consortia representatives, funders and publishers, and convened by cOAlition S, Jisc and PLOS, the tool aims to provide a framework for evaluating scholarly communication models and arrangements on the axis of equity.

Key enhancements

The revised tool offers enhanced guidance for users and clearer definitions of equity indicators, across the  seven core assessment criteria:

• Access to Read 
• Publishing immediate Open Access 
• Maximizing participation 
• Re-use rights 
• Pricing and fee transparency 
• Promoting and encouraging open research practices: data and code 
• Promoting and encouraging open research practices: preprints and open peer review..."