Accessibility Tools
On 5 June, the European University Association published a new briefing on ‘Reclaiming academic ownership of the scholarly communication system: Challenges and opportunities for universities’.
During this launch event from 15.00-16.00 CEST, speakers presented insights and key considerations from the briefing, setting the stage for an open discussion with the audience to explore pathways toward a just scholarly publishing ecosystem, as envisioned in the EUA Open Science Agenda 2025.
Sharing and publishing research results is a fundamental part of the research process and knowledge production, and it relies on the critical examination and discussion of each other's findings. Historically, the primary goals of scholarly communication were to disseminate, exchange and preserve knowledge, through the publication of academic journals and books.
However, today’s scholarly communication system has increasingly diverged from these original purposes. It now presents significant flaws and inefficiencies. It imposes high costs for researchers and research performing organisations, restricts the rapid and wide dissemination of research results and, through its structure and operation, threatens core academic values such as trust and integrity.
To support institutional leaders in navigating these complex dynamics, EUA’s forthcoming briefing describes the current status of academic publishing, highlighting the main factors shaping the system and the key challenges faced by the academic community. It will also identify the opportunities for universities to play a leading role in shaping the future of scholarly communication.
Speakers
Moderator: Rita Morais, Adviser for Research & Innovation, EUA
Background
This was the fourth event in a new EUA webinar series ‘The future of scholarly communication’, which follows the 2021 webinar series on the future of scholarly publishing. The series will address the rapid technological advancements and evolving scholarly practices which are reshaping the future of scholarly communication.
As detailed in the EUA Open Science Agenda 2025, the scholarly ecosystem is indeed moving at an unprecedented pace. The sheer volume of scholarly publications continues to rise exponentially, making it increasingly challenging for researchers to keep abreast of new developments in their fields. While a growing number of publications are openly accessible through various models such as diamond, green, or gold open access, a significant portion of research remains locked behind subscription walls, hindering knowledge dissemination. Moreover, scholarly communication extends beyond traditional research articles to encompass a diverse array of outputs, including books, software, and code. Efforts are being made to open the whole research process and bring it closer to society. This diversity underscores the need for innovative approaches to dissemination and access across various formats.
As universities navigate this landscape of change, they play a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of knowledge ownership, dissemination and academic discourse.
The recordings of the previous webinars of the series are now available. Please note that you can access them only if you have registered for at least one of the webinars.
