Welcome to the Open to Open Access (O2OA) project blog!

O2OA is a joint JISC funded project between Coventry University, the University of Northampton and De Montfort University. These three Midlands-based, Modern Universities are collaborating to identify issues and challenges – and ultimately recommendations – for the implementation of OA requirements in a modern university setting. This first blog outlines the project plan, and we will update the blog as work progresses.

Aims, Objectives and Final Output(s) of the project

The overall aim is to establish shared institutional processes for the HE sector to support Open Access data management, OA publications and associated information management processes.  More specifically we will:

    • Identify the OA needs of academics, information managers, research support staff, corporate leads and external funders
    • Understand the relationships between OA publications, OA data and impact
    • Develop workflows for OA processes
    • Test and review technical modifications to existing institutional systems
    • Embed a pro-OA culture using behaviour-change informed approaches to engage academics
    • Align recommendations and workflows to funders’ and institutional mandates
    • Disseminate this learning across the HE sector

Throughout the project we will produce and disseminate a range of outputs to share the learning sector-wide such as:.

  • Needs assessment report (October 2014)
  • Agreed set of OA workflows and processes (October 2015)
  • Posters, webinars, blogs, conference presentations and workshops (ongoing)
  • Good practice handbook (May 2016)
  • JISC project workshop (spring 2016)
  • Ongoing social media (eg. Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogs)

Wider Benefits to Sector & Achievements for Host Institution 

Benefits will include:

    • Increased awareness and knowledge of OA and associated processes among stakeholders (researchers, research managers and administrators, senior management).
    • Increased compliance, adoption and engagement of OA policies
    • Improved workflows and processes for OA
    • Reduced burden on HEIs to implement OA

Project Team

The collaboration draws on the expertise and experience of each partner to reflect the diversity of experiences within the HE sector:

  • Coventry University (lead organisation): Dr Lorna Everall (project director), Julie Bayley, Joanne Marsh.
    • Coventry leads on the overall project and on OA data management, drawing on their expertise in impact system development, embedding impact institutionally and effecting culture change within academia. Coventry are currently auditing current research data management practices and will develop associated policies and procedures
  • University of Northampton: Miggie Pickton, Nick Dimmock, Katie Jones.
    • Northampton leads on OA Publications, having a particular interest in increasing its proportion of OA publications in line with the recent HEFCE policy for open access in post-2014 Research Excellence Frameworks.
  • De Montfort University (DMU): Alan Cope, Alan Brine, Katie Fraser.  The project runs from May 2014 – May 2016 as follows:
    • DMU leads on aligning OA with CRIS systems. DMU is in the process of implementing a new CRIS system and will develop associated workflows and process improvements. This will improve DMU’s research support systems and institutional aim of increasing Open Access publications.

Timescale

The project runs from May 2014-May 2016.  Work begins with a needs assessment (June-Sep 14), followed by process and workflow development (Oct 14-Sep 15), technical review and refinement (Apr 15 – Feb 16) and culminating in a range of tools and guidance in May 2016.

 

For more information contact Julie Bayley, Coventry University Impact Officer and O2OA Project Manager  – j.bayley@coventry.ac.uk

Comments

comments