Sultan Qaboos University has signed an open access publishing agreement with Springer Nature, marking a significant step that reflects the University’s firm commitment to enhancing the quality of its research outputs and expanding their global reach. Under the agreement, the University will fully cover article processing charges (APCs) for eligible researchers, removing one of the main barriers previously associated with publishing in high-impact international journals.
The agreement aims to enable researchers to publish their work under the open access model in leading academic platforms, thereby increasing citation rates, promoting the principle of open knowledge, and strengthening the University’s research presence at both regional and international levels. It covers publishing in journals issued by Springer, Adis and Palgrave Macmillan through the Springer Nature Link platform, in addition to academic journals published on Nature.com, with a total of more than 2,000 peer-reviewed scientific journals. The agreement also features electronic integration that streamlines and enhances the efficiency of the publishing process.
In its initial phase, the agreement is limited to supporting the publication of research papers that have been accepted for publication in first-quartile (Q1) journals according to the Scopus database rankings, in line with institutional criteria and the University’s policies governing publication support. This reflects the University’s commitment to directing its scholarly output towards the highest-quality and most influential publication channels.
Open access publishing offers strategic benefits for both researchers and institutions, as it enhances the dissemination and use of research, opens wider opportunities for international collaboration, and enables all segments of society to access knowledge free of charge. This model also accelerates research impact through flexible licensing that allows others to build on previous studies and supports interdisciplinary knowledge integration, while aligning with the requirements of funding bodies and global policies that promote open access.
Dr. Ghazi bin Ali Al-Rawas, Dean of Research, stated that the agreement falls within the University’s vision to promote impactful scientific publishing. He noted that covering publication fees across such a large number of international journals serves as a strong incentive for researchers to adopt the open access model and contributes to maximising the University’s scientific impact and consolidating its presence on international publishing platforms.
Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Azri, Director of the Main Library, added that the agreement represents a strategic pillar in supporting the research ecosystem, emphasising that it facilitates researchers’ access to prestigious publishing channels and enables them to present their work in accordance with international best practices, while overcoming the financial barriers associated with publication fees.
This step comes as part of SQU’s ongoing efforts to promote high-quality scientific research and to reinforce the principle of open knowledge, in line with its strategic direction towards developing the research and innovation ecosystem and consolidating its position as a knowledge-producing institution with a meaningful impact on the global scientific landscape.