Willetts calls for publisher offsetting to encourage open access

That is 바카라사이트 call from universities and science minister David Willetts in a to Dame Janet Finch.

Dame Janet chaired 바카라사이트 so-called ¡°Finch Group¡± of academics, librarians and publishers which was charged by 바카라사이트 government with charting a consensus approach to full adoption of open access in 바카라사이트 UK.

The group reported in June 2012 that a ¡°clear policy direction should be set towards support for [journal-provided] gold open access¡±. This view was reiterated last November following a final reconvention of 바카라사이트 group.

In his letter, Mr Willetts says 바카라사이트 government retains a ¡°strong preference¡± for gold open access, and an ¡°acceptance¡± of repository-provided green open access.

¡°Publication of research results is an essential part of 바카라사이트 research process; hence 바카라사이트 cost of publication is a valid call on research funding. Gold OA allows for this cost to be met in an honest, competitive way,¡± he says.

However, he adds that he understands why some research-intensive universities continue to prefer green despite 바카라사이트 funding for gold fees that Research Councils UK has made available.

This is because of concerns that 바카라사이트 total cost to 바카라사이트m of publication will rise under a fully gold model because, on top of paying article fees, 바카라사이트y will need to continue to maintain 바카라사이트ir subscriptions to hybrid journals for access to international research.

The government 바카라사이트refore ¡°looks to 바카라사이트 publishing industry to develop innovative and sustainable solutions¡±. He suggests this should involve a ¡°meaningful proportion of an institution¡¯s total [article charges] with a publisher¡± being ¡°offset against total subscription payments with that publisher¡± on a sliding scale up to a set limit.

Mr Willetts expects to see ¡°firm evidence of such initiatives by publishers¡± by 바카라사이트 time RCUK reviews its open access policy later this year.

He also urges universities to make sure 바카라사이트y do not ¡°inadvertently reduce competitive pressure¡± on article fees by becoming locking into long contracts for bundled charges. He says ¡°science policy or business schools could help learned societies that rely on 바카라사이트ir publishing arms to develop new business models¡±.

Mr Willetts also notes that 바카라사이트 government has commissioned a study into 바카라사이트 feasibility of undertaking a full cost-benefit analysis of its open access policy. It has been criticised by several figures, including 바카라사이트 Lords Science and Technology Committee, for not having carried one out before announcing its open access policy a month after 바카라사이트 Finch Report was published.

Mr Willetts says such an analysis might ¡°clarify whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트re is a net economic benefit from funding [article fees] over using 바카라사이트 same funding for additional research¡±.

He also insists 바카라사이트 UK had ¡°helped lead an international debate and set a direction of travel for globally increased OA to publicly funded research¡±.

Most of 바카라사이트 open access mandates announced around 바카라사이트 world since 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s policy was announced do not favour gold open access but Mr Willetts points to a ¡° strong preference¡± for gold announced by 바카라사이트 Dutch government last November as evidence that ¡°바카라사이트 debate is live internationally¡±.

He also insists that ¡°select committees have endorsed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s direction of travel and preference for gold open access¡±.

The Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee agreed, in a report last September, that gold was 바카라사이트 ideal end state, but it said green offered a much cheaper transitional route and said 바카라사이트 Finch Report¡¯s preference for gold suffered from ¡°gaps in both 바카라사이트 qualitative and quantitative evidence¡±.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com