UKRI has published updated information to support funded research organisations and researchers to meet its new open access policy.
Peer-reviewed research articles that acknowledge UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding have been required to comply with UKRI’s open access policy since 1 April 2022.
The following guidance has been updated, including to address frequently asked questions from stakeholders:
- UKRI open access policy and frequently asked questions
- making your research publications open access
- open access funding
- information pack for research organisations.
From 1 January 2024, UKRI will also require monographs, book chapters and edited collections to be made open access within 12 months of publication.
This new policy will increase the opportunity for findings from the breadth of research UKRI funds to be accessed and used.
Updated information has been published about the implementation of our policy, including in relation to monographs and monitoring and evaluation.
Monographs and book chapters
The successful implementation of our new open access requirements for monographs, book chapters and edited collections, ahead of 1 January 2024, is a priority for UKRI.
Over the coming months, we will be working collaboratively with the sector to support this.
Key areas of activity include:
- developing guidance and resources to support research organisations and researchers, including in relation to policy exceptions
- finalising the process and definition of eligible costs for a £3.5 million ring-fenced open access fund for monographs and book chapters
- roundtables and workshops with stakeholders and raising awareness of the policy among research communities.
UKRI has funded Jisc to support the implementation of its policy and wider adoption of open access for monographs and book chapters.
This work will include sector engagement and identifying how a variety of different models for open access publishing can be supported.
UKRI intends to provide a further update in November 2022 and publish final guidance for authors and research organisations by March 2023.
Monitoring and evaluation
Implementing effective monitoring and evaluation of the policy is also a priority.
To inform this work, UKRI has commissioned Research Consulting to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework. It will support us and the sector in assessing open access progress, levels of compliance with our policy and its effectiveness.
We want to ensure that the framework is co-designed with the research and publishing stakeholders.
Over the coming months, Research Consulting and UKRI will be conducting interviews and workshops with a diverse set of experts and stakeholders.
UKRI will share further information on the outcomes of this project later this year.
Supporting wider implementation
Some other implementation activities UKRI is currently undertaking include:
- working with sector representative bodies to establish a stakeholder forum for the policy
- further developing expectations and guidance for publishers and repositories regarding the phased implementation of UKRI’s technical requirements research articles in-scope of the policy
- working with Jisc and cOAlition S to improve the UKRI instance of the Journal Checker Tool.
Further information
Find out more about UKRI open access policy:
- a blog written by Christopher Smith, outlining what the UKRI open access policy means for researchers funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Jisc’s page on how they are supporting the implementation of the UKRI open access policy, including a forum for research organisations on the Jisc’s digital research community page and support page for publishers.
- Research Consulting’s project supporting the development of a monitoring and evaluation project for the UKRI’s open access policy.
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As an expert in academic publishing and open access policies, I have been closely following developments in the field, including the recent updates from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). My knowledge is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of the evolving landscape of scholarly communication and the various initiatives aimed at promoting open access to research findings.
The recent announcement by UKRI regarding its updated open access policy is a significant step in advancing transparency and accessibility in research. Since April 1, 2022, peer-reviewed research articles that acknowledge UKRI funding must comply with the open access policy. This policy aims to ensure that research funded by UKRI is accessible to a wider audience, fostering collaboration and knowledge dissemination.
One key aspect of the updated policy, effective from January 1, 2024, is the extension of open access requirements to include monographs, book chapters, and edited collections within 12 months of publication. This expansion reflects UKRI's commitment to broadening access to a diverse range of research outputs beyond traditional journal articles.
To facilitate the successful implementation of these new requirements, UKRI is actively engaging with the research community. The organization is developing guidance and resources to assist research organizations and researchers, addressing policy exceptions and defining eligible costs for a £3.5 million ring-fenced open access fund for monographs and book chapters. Collaborative efforts with stakeholders through roundtables, workshops, and sector engagement are underway to support a smooth transition.
Furthermore, UKRI has enlisted Jisc to support the implementation of its policy, including efforts to promote open access for monographs and book chapters. This involves sector engagement and exploring different models for open access publishing.
A crucial component of UKRI's strategy is monitoring and evaluation. To ensure effective assessment of the policy's progress and compliance, UKRI has commissioned Research Consulting to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework. This collaborative approach involves engaging a diverse set of experts and stakeholders through interviews and workshops to inform the framework's design.
To support wider implementation, UKRI is working with sector representative bodies to establish a stakeholder forum for the policy. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance expectations and guidance for publishers and repositories regarding the phased implementation of UKRI's technical requirements for research articles.
In conclusion, the proactive measures taken by UKRI underscore its commitment to open access and reflect a comprehensive strategy involving collaboration with stakeholders, active engagement with the research community, and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. Researchers and institutions can stay informed through various channels, including blogs, updates from Jisc, and ongoing projects by Research Consulting.
