article processing charge<\/a> model to make a publication open access in one of their journals. When a Kent author publishes in an Elsevier journal, it can incur between \u00a3120 and \u00a37,800 in article processing charges<\/p>\nIs there an alternative?<\/h2>\n
Yes there is. Publishers and research institutions are working together to develop new business models that support sustainable approaches to open access publishing.<\/p>\n
The University of Kent has entered into \u2018transitional\u2019\u00a0open access agreements with many major publishers and Learned Societies on a \u2018read and publish\u2019 model. Under these agreements, the publisher receives payment for providing access to their journal portfolio and payment for publishing, bundled into a single contract.<\/p>\n
In this way, the University supports the wide dissemination of its research and scholarship at a sustainable cost. This also benefits Kent authors as the process of publishing open access in these journals is simpler.<\/p>\n
These Read and Publish agreements are supported by UKRI, Wellcome and the other cOAlition S funders. They help to transform scholarly publishing towards the Plan S goal of achieving full and immediate open access to peer-reviewed scholarly publications from research funded by public and private grants.<\/p>\n
There is currently no open access agreement in place with Elsevier, and open access fees are paid on an article-by-article basis where funding is available<\/strong>.<\/p>\nDespite publishing over 20% of UK output, Elsevier has not yet established a transitional and Plan S-compliant Read and Publish agreement with UK universities.<\/p>\n
The importance of a Read and Publish agreement with Elsevier and UK universities<\/h2>\n
UK universities agreed their priorities for the Elsevier agreement in advance and began negotiations in March 2021 with two core objectives: to reduce costs to levels UK universities can sustain, and to provide full and immediate open access to UK research.<\/p>\n
The aim is to secure an agreement with Elsevier that enables open access publishing, combined with access to pay-walled content, for a reduced fee. If achieved, this would represent the biggest Read and Publish agreement to date in the UK, and the stakes are high.<\/p>\n
Jisc, the UK not-for-profit digital services provider for education and research, facilitates the overall negotiations. Kent provides feedback to JISC and Information Services co-ordinates the Kent response via key stakeholders. Senior leaders are closely engaged with these groups and with the University\u2019s response.<\/p>\n
A Jisc video highlights the key issues.<\/strong><\/p>\n