Open Access And Scholarly Communication Training Course

Introduction

Empower researchers and enhance the reach of scholarly work with our comprehensive Open Access and Scholarly Communication Training Course. This program provides a thorough understanding of the principles, practices, and benefits of Open Access (OA) publishing and effective scholarly communication strategies. Mastering OA and scholarly communication is increasingly vital for researchers, librarians, and research administrators seeking to maximize research impact, comply with funder mandates, and engage effectively with the broader academic community and the public. Our open access training course offers in-depth knowledge and practical guidance on navigating the evolving landscape of scholarly dissemination.

This Open Access and Scholarly Communication training delves into key areas such as different OA models (gold, green, hybrid), copyright and licensing (Creative Commons), repository management, research impact metrics, scholarly identity management, effective science communication, and navigating the publishing landscape. You will gain expertise in making informed decisions about disseminating research, understanding author rights, utilizing OA infrastructure, and promoting your scholarly work effectively. Whether you are a researcher, librarian, research administrator, or graduate student, this Open Access and Scholarly Communication course will equip you with the essential skills to navigate and thrive in the modern scholarly environment.

Target Audience:

• Researchers (Faculty, Postdocs, Graduate Students)
• Librarians
• Research Administrators
• Scholarly Communication Officers
• Research Managers
• Funding Agency Staff
• Publishers

Course Objectives:

• Understand the fundamental principles and benefits of Open Access (OA)
• Differentiate between various Open Access models (gold, green, hybrid).
• Navigate copyright and licensing issues in scholarly publishing, including Creative Commons.
• Understand the role and management of institutional and disciplinary repositories.
• Utilize research impact metrics effectively to measure and enhance scholarly influence.
• Manage scholarly identity and online presence for greater visibility.
• Develop effective strategies for science communication and public engagement.

DURATION

5 Days

Course Content:

Module 1: Understanding Open Access (OA)

• Exploring the fundamental principles and benefits of Open Access (OA) publishing.
• Examining the historical context and the rise of the OA movement.
• Understanding the different motivations and stakeholders involved in OA.
• Analyzing the impact of OA on research dissemination and accessibility.
• Best practices for understanding and advocating for Open Access.

Module 2: Models of Open Access Publishing

• Differentiating between various Open Access models (gold, green, hybrid).
• Understanding the characteristics and implications of each OA model.
• Exploring article processing charges (APCs) and alternative funding models.
• Navigating publisher OA policies and options.
• Best practices for choosing the most suitable OA publishing route.

Module 3: Copyright and Licensing for Scholarly Works

• Navigating copyright and licensing issues in scholarly publishing, including Creative Commons.
• Understanding author rights and publisher agreements.
• Exploring different types of Creative Commons licenses and their implications.
• Applying appropriate licenses to research outputs.
• Best practices for managing copyright and licensing in OA.

Module 4: Repositories for Open Access

• Understanding the role and management of institutional and disciplinary repositories.
• Exploring the benefits of depositing research in repositories.
• Understanding repository policies and submission workflows.
• Discovering and utilizing relevant disciplinary repositories.
• Best practices for using repositories to maximize research visibility.

Module 5: Research Impact Metrics

• Utilizing research impact metrics effectively to measure and enhance scholarly influence.
• Understanding different types of metrics (citation counts, altmetrics).
• Critically evaluating the use and limitations of various metrics.
• Strategies for increasing research impact and visibility.
• Best practices for understanding and leveraging research impact metrics.

Module 6: Scholarly Identity Management

• Managing scholarly identity and online presence for greater visibility.
• Understanding the importance of researcher identifiers (ORCID, ResearcherID).
• Creating and maintaining effective online profiles.
• Engaging with scholarly networking platforms.
• Best practices for building and managing a professional online presence.

Module 7: Science Communication and Public Engagement

• Developing effective strategies for science communication and public engagement.
• Understanding the principles of clear and accessible communication.
• Utilizing different communication channels (social media, blogs, public talks).
• Engaging with diverse audiences beyond academia.
• Best practices for communicating research effectively to a wider audience.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.