On Apr 1st the RCUK Open Access policy comes into effect. This policy, which does express a preference for Gold without ruling out Green Open Access, should have a large impact in widening the Open Access availability of peer-reviewed research papers. In order to verify this, an evidence-based policy effectiveness assessment will be held in 2014. In the meantime, HEIs are figuring out the most appropriate advocacy and monitoring strategies for ensuring RCUK policy cross-disciplinary implementation.

The RCUK Open Access policy document states that “The RCUK OA Block Grant is principally to support the payment of APCs. However, Research Organisations have the flexibility to use the block grant in the manner they consider will best deliver the RCUK Policy on Open Access, as long as the primary purpose to support the payment of APCs is fulfilled”.

Once preliminary assessment was carried out by specific HEI on their yearly publication tion figures and the amount of funding required for making them available via Gold Open Access, results showed a need to reinforce Green Open Access and institutional repositories in order to provide mechanisms for policy compliance to all researchers and research departments. HEIs are subsequently investing part of the Block Grant funding in delivering enhancements to their repository infrastructure as well as in research information workflow implementation that will enable the required reporting requirements to be met.

The RepNet Project will provide its full support to institutional repository enhancement by gradually rolling out new functionality -such as IRUS-UK, the RJ Broker and beyond- that may contribute to a more effective RCUK Open Access policy implementation and monitoring at HEIs.