User:Filippo Morsiani/Open access in Bangladesh

Open Access in Bangladesh; Due to lack of IT infrastructure, most of the stakeholders are not aware of Open Access. Students and academics from few universities, such as American International University – Bangladesh are aware of open content development. The present Bangladesh Government has taken different initiatives for ICT development despite the barriers such as funding, and infrastructure development issues. Currently, nine OA repositories from Bangladesh are listed in the Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR). This includes the Dhaka University Institutional Repository and the Digital Repository of the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.

Prices of scientific journals and non-affordability further necessitate the need for Open Access content development. Bangladesh Journals Online (BanglaJol) currently list a total of 134 journals published in Bangladesh. As of May 2015, there are 30 OA journals indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) which are published in Bangladesh, while 76 OA journals are indexed in the Directory of Open Access Scholarly Resources (ROAD).

Enabling Environment
Though only recently, information infrastructure is improving and hence enhances the possibility of achieving OA to information. There are at least two repositories reported viz., BRAC university Institutional repository and the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Digital Repository (ICDDR). These are implemented on DSpace digital repository platform.

Potential Barriers
There is a sheer lack of IT infrastructure, funding and trained and employable populace that could contribute to OA.

Funding Mandate
As indicated in the Registry of Open Access Repositories Mandatory Archiving Policies (ROARMAP) and SHERPA/JULIET database of funders' OA policies, there is currently no national policy or Funding Mandate regarding OA. However, the Bangladesh government is actively supporting ICT applications.

Past and Future OA related Activities

 * Journal Quality Workshop facilitated by INASP's Sioux Cumming and Andy Nobes; Partners: Bangladesh Academy of Sciences; June 22-24, 2014.
 * Workshop on "Monitoring and Evaluation of Electronic Resource Use (MEERU)"; March 18-20, 2014. The workshop provided participants with the skills to collect usage data from their institution to inform the selection and renewal of online resource subscriptions.
 * Workshop on "Developing Research Communication Skills and Ethical Considerations"; Partners: Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University; February 18-20, 2014.
 * Workshop on "Improving research Communication Skills"; Partners: Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists; February 23-24, 2014. This was an AuthorAID workshop aimed at young researchers in Bangladesh.