On 22 October 2024, the Library Services Department of the University of Pretoria (UP), in collaboration with the University of South Africa (Unisa) Library and Information Services (LIS), hosted an impactful open access (OA) event under the theme ‘Community over Commercialisation’. This year’s event continued the critical conversation about putting knowledge accessibility for the public and academic community above commercial interests, resonating with the core ethos of OA: making scholarly knowledge accessible to all.
Ms Dudu Nkosi, Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi, Prof Mpho Ngoepe, and Ms Segametsi Molawa
Lindiwe Soyizwapi, Director of the Department of Library Services at UP, who opened the event, extended a warm welcome to the academic and public audience, underscoring the importance of OA as a catalyst for social benefit.
Professor Mpho Ngoepe, the Executive Director at Unisa LIS, delivered a compelling keynote address that delved into the broad benefits of OA, focusing on its potential to drive equitable access to knowledge and fortify academic freedom. Ngoepe spoke to the heart of the OA movement, emphasising how prioritising community over commercialisation fosters inclusivity, preserves academic autonomy, and advances scholarly collaboration. His address underscored the dangers of commercialisation in academic publishing, suggesting that these forces could compromise the integrity of research if left unchecked. By upholding OA principles, he argued, academic institutions can ensure that knowledge serves the public good rather than corporate interests.
Director of Research: The Innovation and Postgraduate Education Centre at UP, Dr Carol Nonkwelo, provided valuable information on innovative funding models for OA, urging attendees to leverage collaborative efforts to sustain and expand OA initiatives.
Ms Khuliso Matsheka,Dr Matlala Mahlatji, Ms Annah Masemola , and Dr Modiehi Rammutloa
The event brought together participants from South Africa, including representatives of institutions such as Unisa, UP, the Tshwane University of Technology, and the Centre for Geoscience. The presenters also included speakers from the Academy of Science of South Africa, who addressed how ‘Diamond Open Access’ can catalyse policy change. Dr Siviwe Bangani, Director of Research Services at Stellenbosch University, illustrated the contributions of OA to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and demonstrated how OA serves as a powerful tool for advancing these goals. Dr Marlene Holmner, Head of the Department of Information Science at UP, discussed OA tools that ensure equitable access to organisational knowledge. From Sthembiso Mkhwanazi, Senior Project Manager at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, we received an explanation about data infrastructure for robust sharing and accessibility.
Dr Modiehi Rammutloa, a senior lecturer at Unisa’s Department of Information Science, emphasised the importance of protecting data generated by citizen science initiatives, while Sizakele Nkosi, Director of Information Resource Content Management at Unisa, concluded the event with thanks to all participants and outlined future steps to promote OA. The presentations covered essential issues, from policy changes driven by Diamond Open Access to the environmental implications of OA for sustainable development and data preservation.
Attendees at the open access event
The event underscored that the journey toward a more open academic world not only enhances public access but also nurtures a collaborative culture across institutions. Events like this represent crucial steps toward a future where information circulates freely, supporting academic innovation, public policy, and community engagement.
* By Itumeleng Mpete, Marketing Officer, Department of Library and Information Services
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