In a monumental development for scholarly communication, researchers in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa are poised to benefit from enhanced opportunities for open-access publishing. This groundbreaking advancement stems from an innovative agreement forged between the South African National Library and Information Consortium (SANLiC) and Taylor & Francis, marking the publishing giant's first such collaboration in sub-Saharan Africa. The agreement holds the potential to revolutionize scholarly discourse and knowledge dissemination across the region.
Spanning three years, the agreement encompasses over 2,100 journals, providing researchers with a robust platform to publish open-access articles. Affiliated authors from participating institutions will have the flexibility to publish open access in all Taylor & Francis and Routledge Open Select (hybrid) journals. Moreover, authors opting for full open-access journals will benefit from reduced publishing costs, underwritten by their respective institutions.
Recognizing the financial constraints often faced by researchers in humanities and social sciences (HSS), Taylor & Francis aims to alleviate these barriers by covering open-access publishing charges for eligible articles. This initiative empowers researchers to amplify the impact of their work while retaining copyright and without incurring additional fees.
Beyond facilitating open-access publishing, the agreement grants faculty and students at participating institutions access to over 1,900 journals spanning humanities, social sciences, science, and technology. Complementing this access, Taylor & Francis will implement an editorial-led training program, equipping researchers with the skills and resources needed to navigate the evolving landscape of open research.
Ellen Tise, Chairperson of the SANLiC board of directors, hails the agreement as a strategic reallocation of subscription expenditure, redirecting resources towards enabling open-access publishing. With an estimated 80% of traditionally paywalled South African research poised for open-access dissemination, SANLiC underscores the transformative potential of this collaborative initiative.
Nitasha Devasar, Vice President and Commercial Lead for India, South Asia, and Africa at Taylor & Francis, underscores the partnership's commitment to amplifying diverse voices and contributions from the Global South. By enhancing global reach and impact for Southern African researchers, Taylor & Francis aims to champion equity in scholarly communication.
While celebrated as a significant stride towards open science, stakeholders like Ahmed Bawa, former Chief Executive of Universities South Africa, advocate for broader reforms within the scientific publishing industry to ensure inclusivity and equity in access.
The partnership between SANLiC and Taylor & Francis stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaborative efforts in advancing scholarly communication and knowledge dissemination on a global scale.
Article by RB Correspodent
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