Director of Scholarly Publishing at the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), Ms Susan Veldsman, was speaking during the Open Access Colloquium, recently hosted by the University of Mpumalanga (UMP).
The Open Access Week Colloquium brings together academics, researchers, and thought leaders to explore the role of Open Access in enhancing knowledge accessibility.
Ms Veldsman noted that South African researchers and institutions face barriers to accessing scientific knowledge because of the high costs associated with journal subscriptions, making equitable distribution of knowledge across the continent a critical issue.
“Universities should establish a common understanding of Open Science, which promotes collaboration, data sharing, and the exchange of ideas, all of these are essential for enhancing research capacity within South African institutions,” she said.
“Open Science facilitates collaboration, data sharing, and the exchange of ideas, which are vital for building research capacity within South African institutions. It also encourages international and intra-African collaboration, helping to integrate African research into global discussions and ensuring that African perspectives are considered
science and innovation,” Ms Veldman explained.
The Open Access Week Colloquium was hosted under the theme: Community over Commercialization, aimed to discuss a publishing model for scholarly communication that makes research information freely available to readers, unlike the traditional subscription model where access requires payment, typically through libraries.
UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso added that the University is committed to Open Access of prioritising public good over profit. The institution signed the Berlin Declaration in 2019, joining the global movement to support Open Access for the benefit of science and society.
“This declaration solidified our support for Open Access and our commitment to the Open Access paradigm, aiming to benefit science and society,” she said, adding that Open Access plays a critical role in enhancing the global reach of research outputs, particularly for South African universities.
Bright Future for Open Access Publishing
Professor Mayekiso further said Open Access aligns with the Institution’s core values of excellence and diversity, reinforcing its mission to foster equitable knowledge-sharing pathways, and UMP’s dedication to addressing the prohibitive costs of research subscriptions, advocating for a more equitable knowledge-sharing landscape.
“Our vision as the University of Mpumalanga is to be an African university leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation, placing knowledge generation at the core of our being. In line with UMP Vision 2030, we aim to make pioneering, critical contributions through the production and dissemination of knowledge.”
She acknowledged UMP’s active participation in discussions on Open Access, facilitated by Universities South Africa, which seeks to create a unified approach to open access across South African higher education institutions.
Professor Aldo Stroebel, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Internationalisation, added that the future of Open Access publishing will be defined by accessibility, increased collaboration, and a strong commitment to ethical practices.
He further emphasised four key areas poised for transformative growth: innovative platforms for faster research dissemination, AI integration to streamline publishing workflows, an increase in interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to ethical practices in Open Access.
“The ultimate future of Open Access publishing is likely to be characterised by greater accessibility, enhanced collaboration, and a commitment to ethical practices. The journey toward a more open and equitable publishing ecosystem is certainly underway, and in a sense, we are celebrating it during this session and throughout this year.”
Some of the key topics that were discussed included: Generative AI in research, which was presented by Dr Gagandeep Singh: Senior Publisher- STEM CRC Press Taylor and Francis Group, and funding was presented by Dr Nokuthula Mchunu: Deputy Director- African Open Science Platform, National Research Foundation.
UMP Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, Professor Ndiko Ludidi presented the Open Access Scholarly Community: Researcher Networks. In closing Professor Ferdinand Niyimbanira, a Senior Lecturer from the School of Development Studies at UMP, shared his research experiences.
Story by Lisa Thabethe.