Open Access Policy: Home

Establishes the University’s non-exclusive permission to make available scholarly research publications authored by KAUST researchers for the purpose of open dissemination. The original policy is also available here (KAUST policy intranet).

Effective Date: June 30, 2014

Non Substantive Revision: January 1, 2019

Some publishers allow public access to the manuscript in the repository only after a defined embargo period. Please specify embargo period requirements when submitting each manuscript. Otherwise, library staff will refer to the SHERPA/RoMEO database of publisher copyright policies when setting any embargo periods.

Ordinarily, submitted articles will remain permanently in the repository.  Withdrawal is permitted on request if the published article is retracted or in other unusual circumstances.

Some publishers will require that you receive a waiver from this policy. You may obtain a waiver at any time by sending a request via email to: repository@kaust.edu.sa. Please include the following information:

• Names of KAUST authors
• Title of article (expected or working title)
• Journal you expect to publish in

Even if using the waiver option, authors must deposit a copy of the manuscript version of new scholarly articles in the institutional repository.  The deposited article will then be "dark" (or non-OA), if required by the publisher.

The Library will review each submitted article to determine the rights allowed by the publisher. The article will be made publicly and freely accessible whenever this does not violate the terms of the author agreement. Articles that cannot be made openly accessible may be accessible to those with a KAUST login.

• Journal Finder (select journal ISSN; or browse by title or subject)
• Library Catalog (OneSearch) 
• Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery request or email 
• Library Databases (alphabetically)
• My Library Account
• Recommend a purchase
• Library Training Schedule

University faculty members, research scientists, post-doctoral fellows, students and employees ("University Research Authors") grant to the University non-exclusive permission to make available their scholarly research publications and to exercise the copyright in those publications for the purpose of open dissemination.

More specifically, each University Research Author grants to the University a non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license to exercise any and all rights under copyright relating to each of his or her scholarly research publications, in any medium, provided that the publications are not sold for a profit, and to authorize others to do the same.

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs or its designate may waive application of the license for a particular publication or delay access for a specified period of time upon express direction by the author.

Each faculty member or researcher will provide an electronic copy of the author's accepted version of each publication no later than the date of its publication at no charge in accordance with the guidelines published from time to time by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs charges the KAUST Library to develop and monitor a plan to comply with this policy and existing copyright obligations in a manner as convenient for the faculty as possible.

The Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs or its delegate will be responsible for interpreting this policy, resolving disputes concerning its interpretation and application, and recommending changes to the Academic Council from time to time.

The KAUST Library will review this policy after three years.

Effective Date: June 30, 2014

Non Substantive Revision: January 1, 2019

Choose one of the following methods:

1. Deposit directly in the repository:

• Go to: https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/.
• Log in with your KAUST username and password.
• After logging in hover over the "+" symbol button in the upper left-hand corner.
• Click "New" -> "Item".
• Choose the appropriate collection for the item type being submitted.
• Enter the required information, upload an appropriate file and submit. After you submit the item will be reviewed by library staff before it appears publicly in the repository.

2. By email:

• Send your accepted manuscript file to repository@kaust.edu.sa. Library staff will complete the submission for you.

OR

• If your accepted manuscript is already available online through another service, just send the link for its location.

The depositing version should be the accepted version of the author's peer-reviewed manuscript that contains the text approved by peer review. It may include post-review copy-editing done collaboratively between author and journal editors. It does not have to include any post-review copyediting done by the journal, the journal's pagination, or the journal's look and feel.  The Library will add a cover page containing a full citation and link to the publisher’s version (final version of record) to the deposited manuscript. If the publisher consents, the published version will replace the author's manuscript if the published version allows at least as many reuse rights as the author's manuscript.

It is advised to append the KAUST addendum when signing a publication agreement with a publisher. Using this addendum keeps the publisher informed of the non-exclusive prior license granted to KAUST under the Open Access Policy.

Step 1: Sign your publisher’s copyright transfer or publication agreement when you submit your final manuscript for publication with the following statement written above your signature: “subject to attached amendment”

Step 2: Attach this amendment with the information filled in and your signature on the bottom.

Step 3: Send both to the publisher.

Step 4: Email a copy of the completed addendum to repository@kaust.edu.sa. This allows the Library to gather aggregated data about use. Data about individual use will not be shared.

Step 5: Please give us any feedback that you receive from the publisher by emailing repository@kaust.edu.sa.

Open access allows researchers to more easily find and read the research they are interested in. For authors this means that their research is more likely to be read, used and cited.

Open Access workshops are scheduled each semester, please check the KAUST Library Trainings libguide for the schedule of upcoming trainings. If you would like to set up a group or individual training session about Open Access at any time please contact Repository@kaust.edu.sa

KAUST Library follows the recent trends in open access movements and established many read and publish agreements to manage hybrid journals publishing and institutional agreement to support gold only publishers. KAUST corresponding authors can benefit from these initiatives, please find more details from https://libguides.kaust.edu.sa/OApublishing

Email questions to the Research Repository Team at:

repository@kaust.edu.sa

You can also contact:

Mohamed Baessa,

Manager, Preservation & Digital Services

Office:  808 3605

Email:   mohamed.baessa@kaust.edu.sa

Daryl Grenz,

Digital Repository Lead,

Office : 808-3630.

Email : daryl.grenz@kaust.edu.sa