Open Access (OA) publishing makes scholarly research freely available online, allowing anyone to read, download, and share academic work without subscription barriers. This model increases the visibility, accessibility, and impact of research while supporting global knowledge sharing.
For faculty, Open Access offers the opportunity to reach wider audiences, increase citation potential, and comply with funder or institutional requirements for public access. Many OA journals use Creative Commons licenses, which let authors retain more control over their work while clearly outlining how it can be reused.
For students, Open Access provides free access to high-quality scholarly articles, books, and research data that can be used for assignments, projects, and independent study. By removing paywalls, OA ensures that learners everywhere—not just at well-funded institutions—can benefit from the latest research.
There are different models of OA publishing, including Gold Open Access (articles freely available on the publisher’s site, sometimes requiring an article processing charge), Green Open Access (authors deposit a version of their work in an institutional or subject repository), and Hybrid Open Access (subscription journals offering optional OA for individual articles).
On this page, you will find information on:
How to identify reputable Open Access journals
Support available for publishing OA at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean
Guidance on copyright, licensing, and avoiding predatory publishers
Why Open Access Publishing Matters for UCC
At the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Open Access is aligned with our mission to expand access to knowledge, support innovative research, and foster global collaboration. By engaging in Open Access publishing, our faculty and students contribute to a more inclusive academic community where research from the Caribbean can reach the world. At the same time, UCC benefits from increased visibility, stronger international partnerships, and improved access to learning resources that empower our community.
Open Access empowers both faculty and students by making knowledge more inclusive, transparent, and impactful. The Library has compiled a list of Open Educational Resources and resources to help you avoid predatory publishing.
List of Open Educational Resources
Comprehensive Approach to Open Access Publishing (Article)
Development of Open Access Journal Publishing From 1993 - 2009 (Article)
Downside of Open Access Publishing (Article)
Nine Flavors of Open Access Scholarly Publishing (Article)
Open Access: The View Of A Commercial Publisher (Article)
Open Access Publishers: The New Players (Article)