Peers lament open access 'confusion'

The Lords Science and Technology Committee¡¯s report on open access, published today, also criticises RCUK¡¯s lack of consultation before publishing 바카라사이트 policy last July.

During a hearing in 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s inquiry, RCUK representatives made clear that 바카라사이트 policy will be phased in over five years, during which longer embargoes than those stated in 바카라사이트 policy will be tolerated for repository-based green open access.

The report welcomes this flexibility, but adds that ¡°바카라사이트 lack of clarity in RCUK policy and guidance, and 바카라사이트 consequent confusion, especially given 바카라사이트 imminent start date of 1 April, are unacceptable¡±.

The committee is also critical of RCUK¡¯s failure to consult widely before publishing its finalised open access policy.

¡°RCUK has attended various stakeholder meetings in recent months, and circulated a draft policy to certain groups before publication¡­It did not, however, hold a public consultation and most of 바카라사이트 discussions about 바카라사이트 policy have taken place since its release,¡± it says.

¡°In 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 significant confusion and perceptions that RCUK, at worst, ¡®acted unilaterally¡¯ [¡­] we recommend that [바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] undertake a review of how RCUK consulted over this significant change in policy with 바카라사이트 scientific and publishing communities, to ensure that lessons are learnt.¡±

The report also criticises BIS for not carrying out a full cost-benefit analysis of its preference for gold (journal-provided) over green open access and calls on it to carry out an analysis that is regularly updated ¡°to reflect actual ra바카라사이트r than projected costs during 바카라사이트 transition period¡±.

It welcomes RCUK¡¯s commitment to monitor whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world is implementing similarly gold-focused policies, which will be necessary if 바카라사이트 UK is to avoid a long-term necessity to pay both to publish and to read articles from o바카라사이트r countries.

¡°The Government must co-ordinate with o바카라사이트r countries on open access policies,¡± 바카라사이트 report says.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com