Since April 2022, compliance with the UKRI policy for OA requires immediate Open Access for peer-reviewed research articles. Similarly, the UKRI Open Access monographs policy applies to monographs, book chapters and edited collections published on or after 1 January 2024.  All long-form outputs in scope must be made Open Access within 12 months of publication. 

The 2029 REF consultation was launched in early 2024 and broadly mirrors UKRI policy. Journal articles are subject to a minimum 6-month embargo. For monographs, REF stipulates a 24-month embargo. REF2029‘s emphasis on a sustainable research environment informs QUB's strategy to look at sustainable OA models for both journals and monographs. 

Queen’s is a longstanding member of the Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL). At present, participation in SUP is available only to SCURL member libraries and Queen's inclusion will bring the total number of partner libraries to 19. 

Books published with Scottish Universities Press will be fully OA and compliant with REF2029. All monographs will go through a rigorous peer review process, managed by an editorial board of academics from across participating institutions. Authors retain the copyright to their work, and the book is made available through a Creative Commons license. 

For further information please contact Rebecca Clarke in the Open Research Team (rebecca.clarke@qub.ac.uk). Please also see the Open Research LibGuide Introduction - Open Access - LibGuides at Queen's University Belfast. 

Training and information events for staff and researchers will be advertised over the coming weeks.