An investigation into the emergence of open access journals in public universities in Zambia.
Date
2025
Authors
Mvula, Elizabeth
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
The advent of digital technologies has revolutionized the way research is conducted, disseminated, and accessed. Open Access Journals (OAJs) have emerged as a vital channel for disseminating research findings, promoting knowledge sharing, advancing scholarship, and amplifying the visibility of research findings. In Zambia, public universities play a critical role in driving research and innovation. However, limited access to research outputs has hindered the growth of research and development in the country. Against this background, this study aimed to investigate the emergence of OAJs in public universities in Zambia, focusing on their support levels, types of systems and publishing licensing models in use, potential benefits/opportunities, and challenges. The study used an exploratory design and qualitative data collection methods to investigate the emergence of OAJs in public universities in Zambia. It involved a complete census approach, involving all nine registered universities with the Higher Education Authority (HEA). However, only (3) public universities i.e.; Chalimbana University, Kwame Nkrumah University, and the University of Zambia participated in the study. The study employed a purposive sampling method to select 17 key informants, who included managing editors, chief editors, and editors, from the three public universities which run OAJs. However, data was only collected from 14 key informants. Qualitative data was collected using an observation checklist and interview guide from 14 key informants (representing 14 OAJs) and analysed using Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) lite software. The findings revealed that public universities in Zambia increasingly supported OAJs due to advocacy activities, and growing awareness of their benefits. Lecturers and researchers have a positive attitude toward OAJs, leading to greater acceptance in the studied public institutions. The study further revealed that management support was crucial for the introduction and utilization of OAJs, while the lack of policy and financial constraints hindered their full utilisation. The study found that 14 OAJs in Zambian public universities used Open Journal System (OJS) 3.1.0.1 and Creative Commons (CC BY) Licensing Models, despite the absence of explicit licensing model declarations on their websites. The study findings established that OAJs in public universities in Zambia offered benefits like increased visibility, citations, collaboration, and reduced costs. However, factors such as inadequate funding, infrastructure, and internet connectivity posed significant challenges to the running of OAJs in the studied public universities. Therefore, the study recommended that public universities, find ways to fund OAJs without charging author fees, provide reliable internet connectivity, and build the capacities of editorial teams for AOJs in public universities in Zambia to improve the quality of journals.
Keywords: Open Access Journals, Public Universities, Zambia.
Description
Thesis of Master of Library and Information Science.