Open Access to Public Funded Research: A Discussion in the Context ofMahatma Gandhi University Open Access Archives of Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

The importance of doctoral dissertations, the extend of public fund utilized for their production, need for their open access, concepts of Open Access and the arguments for and against it are discussed in detail. A brief historical outline of the attempts in India for digitizing and providing Open Acess to Doctoral Dissertations is provided. The development of the Open Access Digital Archives of Mahatma Gandhi University is examined as an opportunity for other implementers and developers to gain both technical and non-technical insight. Recommendations for establishing a national agency for ensuring OA to doctoral dissertations produced in Indian universities is provided. Discussion on Open Access Initiative and the creation of OA Archives of Dissertations at MGU can reveal to other intuitions in India that it is not a costly or difficult task as generally considered. The paper can infuse interest and confidence to universities and research institutions in India to provide OA to their research works.