Abstract
Knowledge, as a prerequisite for development, is contingent on information. The main value of information is in its ability to be used, reused, and shared. Open access (OA) allows for the easy dissemination and preservation of information by providing all scholarly communication and knowledge at no cost to the end user. In the rapidly expanding, global knowledge-based economy, Africa’s steady progress from the peripheral to the epicenter of knowledge production is not to be ignored, not least because of its reliance on OA. Such access environments and institutional repositories throughout the continent are playing significant roles in maximizing the impact of research output. This paper reveals that OA content is more citable, not simply because of the quality of the output, but instead of the advantage that OA brings in maximizing accessibility and increased citation. It goes on to show that OA will enhance the research community’s existing system for evaluating and rewarding research productivity. Ultimately, OA has the ability to elevate (South) Africa, its universities and institutions, to the status of knowledge producers rather than mere knowledge consumers.
Highlights
The global knowledge-based economy is in rapid transition, with Africa making laborious attempts to join its ranks
The equitable medium of dissemination is that open scholarly communication has the inclusionary impact of creating opportunities “for African universities to participate in global knowledge production activities with significant potential gains through, inter alia, increased resources for research and publication in local and international academic journals” (p. 23)
Scholarly content produced in Africa is available to the developed world and being utilized to transition Africa from a net consumer of knowledge to a net producer
Summary
The global knowledge-based economy is in rapid transition, with Africa making laborious attempts to join its ranks. The equitable medium of dissemination is that open scholarly communication has the inclusionary impact of creating opportunities “for African universities to participate in global knowledge production activities with significant potential gains through, inter alia, increased resources for research and publication in local and international academic journals” The authors examine the principles of OA and such resources, before applying these principles to the African context They explore the significant benefits of OA—namely, improved visibility and accessibility resulting in an increase in downloads and citation counts. The researchers engaged with all twenty-three South African universities about their institutional repositories through an online survey
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