3 February 2026
A new research sector‑led project has been launched to support UK research organisations in implementing open access (OA) for long‑form publications.
Open access for journal articles is well established but approaches to OA for long-form publications are diverse and evolving. With UKRI’s OA policy for long‑form and expectations that future Research Excellence Frameworks may include OA long-form requirements, institutions are addressing common questions around policy, funding models, rights retention, and researcher support.
The “Advancing Long-form Open Access Practice Project” aims to address this by working collectively with the research sector to develop shared guidance and support. ARMA, RLUK, and SCONUL have come together with funding from UKRI to enable a more coordinated and strategic approach in the transition to OA long-form publications.
Read the full Invitation to Tender
The project will:
- Assess current practice in OA long-form and identify key challenges and support needs
- develop practical guidance for library and research office staff to help their academics/ authors with issues around OA long-form
- commission legal advice on rights retention for long-form and translate this into accessible guidance for institutions; and
- deliver advocacy, engagement, and training activities to support institutions with differing levels of experience and resource.
The work is being undertaken in collaboration with representatives from across the research community. Open access is an exciting and dynamic field, with many organisations already making meaningful contributions through innovative insights and initiatives.
The project will complement this existing activity and share learning. Organisations currently working on related areas of open access are encouraged to get in touch via RLUK.
For more information, please contact David Prosser, Executive Director of RLUK: david.prosser (at) rluk.ac.uk