Open Access Fundamentals for Research Visibility and Impact

Open Access (OA) is a model of scholarly communication that provides free and unrestricted access to research outputs, including articles, data, and software, enabling wider dissemination and use of knowledge. In this presentation prepared for AREN workshop participants, OA is discussed within the broader context of Open Science, highlighting how it promotes transparency, collaboration, and reproducibility, allowing researchers to validate and build upon existing work. The presentation also introduces different OA models and article processing charges (APCs), and examines how Open Access enhances research visibility, citation impact, and global equity, particularly for researchers in low- and middle-income countries. However, significant challenges persist, including predatory journals, high publication costs, limited infrastructure, and systemic biases affecting researchers from the Global South, such as language barriers, misconceptions, and the undervaluation of their work. To maximize impact, researchers are encouraged to publish in reputable journals, use institutional repositories and preprint platforms, maintain researcher profiles, and actively promote their work. Ultimately, Open Access contributes to a more inclusive, efficient, and transparent global research ecosystem. This presentation was delivered on Friday April 10th 2026 as part of the AREN LNLs Training Programme 2026