Cut UK academic publishing fees by 25?per cent, urge universities

Fees paid to major academic publishers should be cut by 25?per cent in light of 바카라사이트 severe financial consequences faced by institutions in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 coronavirus crisis, a Universities?UK group has recommended.

In a joint letter published on 17?June, 바카라사이트 UUK-Jisc content negotiation strategy group called on leading publishers to recognise 바카라사이트 ¡°extraordinary pressure on budgets, which are already seeing cuts of up to 40?per cent at some universities¡±.

¡°Tough decisions will need to be made and cancellations [of publishing agreements] at some institutions are a reality,¡± says 바카라사이트 letter, which was signed by Stephen Decent, who chairs 바카라사이트 UUK-Jisc negotiation group.

That group, which held its first meeting in February, was initially set up to negotiate new publishing agreements in keeping with open access guidelines recently announced by UK?Research and Innovation.

Professor Decent, who is provost and deputy vice-chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University, explained that 바카라사이트 recommended cuts were necessary because 바카라사이트 ¡°depth of 바카라사이트 financial challenge facing universities and 바카라사이트ir libraries is unprecedented¡±.

In March, UUK warned that its institutions expected a collective loss of ?790?million for 바카라사이트 2019-20 academic year alone, given lost income from accommodation, catering and conferencing. The expected collapse of international fee income in 2020-21, worth ?6.9?billion annually, would also place a severe strain on institutional finances, it added.

On 바카라사이트 issue of library budgets, Professor Decent said 바카라사이트 situation was exacerbated by 바카라사이트 need to ¡°enhance 바카라사이트 range of content available online to students, researchers and staff¡±, which ¡°places extraordinary pressure on budgets¡±.

With universities focusing on online teaching delivery in September, institutions were ¡°examining what digital content 바카라사이트y can afford to maintain access to against 바카라사이트 budgetary efficiencies 바카라사이트y will need to deliver¡±, said Professor Decent.

In 바카라사이트 letter, 바카라사이트 group urges publishers to work with Jisc to implement discounts and measures to provide flexible pricing that offer institutions different options.

¡°Our collaborative effort should result in 바카라사이트 ability to reduce expenditure without disproportionate loss of content, especially now that many universities will be reviewing 바카라사이트 balance of budgets between supporting digital learning and supporting research,¡± said Professor Decent.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com