Research Mingle x Library: Amplifying publishing reach through open access

On 21 August, the Research Office, in collaboration with the Library, hosted a Research Mingle session to highlight the importance of open access (OA) and its direct benefits for researchers.

The three speakers—Chris Chan, University Librarian; Rebekah Wong, Head of Digital Initiatives and Research; and Wing Woo, Head of Resource Discovery and Management—discussed the impact of OA, which makes scholarly publications freely available online with rights to read, share, and reuse them. They also explored how OA is recognised by key funding bodies, including the University Grants Committee (UGC) and the Research Grants Council (RGC).
 

Chris Chan answers questions from the audience, and encourages HKBU researchers to adopt open access practices

The session also highlighted the fact that OA papers have increased readership and citations, using data from HKBU-authored publications as evidence. 

Rebekah Wong presents baseline data before describing the far-reaching benefits of Open Access
 

A key element of the session was the behind‑the‑scenes look at how the Library manages its OA operations. The speakers walked the audience through the University's evolving publisher partnerships since 2021, shedding light on practical topics like transformative open access agreements, and highlighting eligibility, scope, and the current state of OA adoption across faculties and schools.

Wing Woo explains transformative open access agreements

The session concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees, who ranged from experienced researchers to postdoctoral fellows, seized the opportunity to address practical concerns regarding OA. They raised questions and sought tailored strategies to maximise the visibility, reach, and overall citation impact of their publications. 

As well as an insightful presentation, the Research Mingle offered a Friday afternoon respite, giving the HKBU research community a relaxed setting to network, exchange ideas, and recharge before the upcoming academic year.
 

Participants network and exchange ideas over refreshments following the presentation

HKBU currently has 15 publishers signed for OA, as listed below. For more details, please, click here. 

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