Access to Africa's knowledge : publishing development research and measuring value

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Learning Information Networking and Knowledge (LINK) Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, ZA

Abstract

While open access publishing models offer solutions to the marginalization of African research, this paper argues for a re-evaluation of the values that underpin recognition in scholarly publishing. When it comes to implementing scholarly publication policies, the vision of technological power and development-focused scientific output is undermined by a conservative research culture that relies on competitive systems for valuing and accrediting scholarship, managed by powerful global commercial publishing consortia. A common reflex in a rapidly changing environment is reversion to traditional publishing models, and a few rich countries in the global North needlessly dominate the publication of research within this changing system.

Description

Keywords

ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE, SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION, PUBLISHING, RESEARCH RESULTS, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AFRICA

Citation

DOI