The University of Waikato has become the first university in New Zealand to approve a mandate around open access to academics' publications.
The Open Access Mandate Guidelines were approved this month by the University of Waikato's Academic Board. Under the guidelines, academic staff can disseminate their research as widely as possible, bringing research results out from behind the subscription paywall to be accessed by all.
This puts the University of Waikato at the forefront of the issue among New Zealand institutions, demonstrating a commitment to the concept of open access to knowledge. Freedom to exchange ideas and to publish acquired knowledge are fundamental to the purposes of a university.
University of Waikato faculty are encouraged to deposit the full text of their peer-reviewed academic publications into the University's digital repository, Research Commons. Research Commons has been increasing the visibility and impact of the University's research activities by making journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, theses and other research work available open access since 2007.
