Open Access 2026: The Cost of Knowledge

Open Access 2026: The Cost of Knowledge

  • 19 Oct 2026 - 25 Oct 2026
  • Free
  • A number of events will take place at RMIT, across Australia, and internationally.
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Open Access Week provides an opportunity to raise awareness of open access and open scholarship initiatives.

'The Cost of Knowledge' is the theme for this year’s International Open Access Week. 

We create and share knowledge in order to advance human understanding and the common good. We recognize that accessing and sharing knowledge is a human right. Yet, the costs to access and share knowledge continue to increase, often dramatically. Why? Who benefits?

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RMIT University Open Scholarship Policy

Open Scholarship Policy intends to transform how our community discovers, accesses, shares, uses and creates knowledge. We work to expand availability of scholarly research outputs, open education and the recognition of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

Open research support

The Library provides essential support for the University’s open access commitments through a range of services and initiatives. These include developing the open access publishing and open research guides; creating Media Hub videos, and our read and publish agreements.

Open education support

The Library encourages and supports educators at RMIT to adopt open educational resources (OERs) as learning resources for their courses. We provide information and guides for understanding open education and open publishing, as well as supporting the access, use and adaptation of educational resources to best suit their needs.

RMIT Research Repository

As RMIT University’s institutional repository, the Research Repository is a collection of peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed research outputs, publications, non-traditional research outputs, theses, datasets and open education resources produced by RMIT University researchers, including HDR candidates.

Changes to the ARC Open Access Policy

The Australian Research Council (ARC) recently updated its Open Access Policy, which came into effect on 1 July 2026. The updated policy impacts how research outcomes funded by the ARC are to be published and shared.

Open Access Australasia’s program of events

OAA has a range of events taking place in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and online via webinar. These include sessions on the politics of knowledge, community ownership and taking your knowledge back. Find out more and register on the OAA website.

Other Library events

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Research Plus Library workshops

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 12 Mar 2026 - 29 Oct 2026
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. Online
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Neurodiverse Study Sessions

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 28 Jul 2026 - 29 Oct 2026
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. Bundoora, Melbourne City
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Signed Book and Artwork Auction

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 21 Sep 2026 - 03 Nov 2026
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. Online
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Super Spreader: Second-year printmaking group exhibition

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 22 Sep 2026 - 12 Oct 2026
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. Melbourne City
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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples