From: Ann Shumelda Okerson <[log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Thu, 7 Mar 2024 22:05:01 -0500

*Jisc review of UK open access and transitional agreements finds positives,
but that a full transition is not in sight*

07 March 2024

New report finds that despite improvements – rapid growth in transitional
agreements, sector savings and high levels of funder compliance – a full
transition to open access will not happen soon.

Jisc has undertaken a review of transitional agreements in the UK that
charts the progress of open access (OA) and evaluates the effectiveness of
transitional agreements (TAs) in that process.

One of the most comprehensive studies of its kind, the review provides an
important and timely evidence base for institutions, research funders,
researchers, publishers and consortia to inform collective decision-making
and planning.

The review found savings were being made through sector-wide negotiations
and showed the UK has achieved exceptional levels of funder compliance
during a period when there were few alternative immediate routes to open
access.

As an early adopter of transitional agreements, the UK appears to be
transitioning to open access more effectively than the global average. In
2022, the number of UK open access articles was 4% higher than the global
average (UK: 50%; global 46%).

Transitional agreements were envisioned as a temporary mechanism to support
a transition to full open access. They set out to constrain costs for
institutions and drive rapid growth of open access at a UK and global
level.  However, the review suggests they are at risk of becoming the
‘norm’ and that the rate of transition is too slow.

More here:

https://www.jisc.ac.uk/news/all/jisc-review-of-uk-open-access-and-transitional-agreements-finds-positives-but-that-a-full-transition-is-not-in-sight