NWU Open Access Celebrations: 21 & 23 October 2025
#OAWeek
Theme: Who Owns Our Knowledge?
Open Access Week 2025 invites us to critically explore the question: Who really owns our knowledge? This theme challenges traditional models of knowledge ownership, prompting reflection on who controls access to research and scholarly outputs, whose voices are amplified or marginalised, and how knowledge can be equitably shared for the common good. As an academic library committed to fostering inclusive scholarship and open dissemination, we recognise that knowledge is a vital public resource that should transcend paywalls and restrictions. This week-long campaign will highlight how Open Access empowers researchers, students, and communities by removing barriers and promoting transparency, collaboration, and innovation.
This information session aims to spark conversation around the ethics of knowledge ownership, the role of intellectual property, and the importance of open infrastructure in academia. Our goal is to raise awareness and equip our university community with the tools to become active participants and advocates in the movement toward open, equitable knowledge sharing.
Join us in questioning existing power structures, celebrating diverse knowledge systems, and embracing Open Access as a path to a more just and informed society.
Programme and Registration Links
- All sessions are conducted online via MS Teams (a link to MS Teams will be provided upon registration).
Tuesday, 21 October 2025: 10:00 - 12:00
Who owns the knowledge?
The session will open with a keynote by Prof. Martial Zebaze Kana (UNESCO), setting the stage for a critical conversation on ownership, equity, and access in scholarly publishing.
This will be followed by a dynamic discussion featuring perspectives from across the publishing landscape, including a publisher representative, a journal editor, and an author.
Together, the speakers will explore the ethics of knowledge ownership, the challenges of paywalls and restrictions, and the possibilities of open access as a pathway to more inclusive, transparent, and equitable scholarship.
| Moderator: Mr Songezo Mpikashe | |
| 10:00- 10:10 | Welcome and opening remarks: Prof Thebe, NWU Overview of International Open Access Week and its significance. |
| 10:10 - 10:30 | Prof Martial Zebaze Kana, UNESCO Keynote Address: "Who owns the knowledge?" |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Ms Daneshree Moodley, Elsevier Publisher perspective: Who owns the knowledge?" |
| 10:50 - 11:10 | Prof Damian Onwudiwe, NWU Journal editor's perspective: "Who owns the knowledge?" |
| 11:10 - 11:30 | Prof Du Toit Loots, NWU Authors' perspective: "Who owns the knowledge?" |
| 11:30 - 11:50 | Q & A Session |
| 11:50 - 12:00 | Closing remarks and vote of thanks: Ms Nomzingisi Madikane, NWU |
Thursday, 23 October 2025: 10:00 - 12:00
Journey into Open Access publishing: Transformative Agreements as a vehicle
In celebration of International Open Access Week 2025, join the NWU Library and Information Service, in collaboration with the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, for a powerful session that dives into the central theme: “Who owns the knowledge?”
This session offers a practical examination of how Transformative Agreements (TAs) are shaping the future of scholarly publishing. Featuring insights from a SANLiC and publisher representatives, and authors highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of TAs. This session will also spotlight one of the university’s top five authors publishing under TAs, offering a firsthand perspective on the impact of these agreements on research visibility and accessibility.
The session aims to equip researchers with knowledge on how TAs can be leveraged as a pathway to more open, equitable scholarly communication.
| Moderator: Mr Martin Nokoane | |
| 10:00 - 10:10 | Welcome and opening remarks: TBC |
| 10:30 - 10:50 | Ms Johanna Kuhn, Springer Nature Transformative Agreements in action: Licensing insights, implementation strategies, and the path toward advancing Open Access |
| 10:50 - 11:10 | Ms Zine Sapula, SANLiC Open Access publishing: Transformative Agreements as a vehicle |
| 11:10 - 11:30 | Prof Roelof Burger, NW Benefits and challenges of publishing in Transformative Agreements |
| 11:30 - 11:50 | Q & A Session |
| 11:50 - 12:00 | Closing remarks and vote of thanks: Prof Francois van der Westhuizen, NWU |
NWU Library Initiatives
- Hosts and maintains the NWU Institutional Repository, which collects, preserves, and distributes NWU research material at no cost to the user.
- Boloka (NWU-IR) serves as the primary repository for all NWU Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs).
- Dedicated librarians assist researchers with uploading their outputs to Boloka.
- Hosts and maintains Open Journal Systems (OJS), an open-source solution for managing and publishing scholarly journals online.
- The library provides a search platform for open-access accredited journals.
- Open Access - Transformative Agreements