"Open access (OA) ensures that scholarly research is freely accessible to all, breaking down barriers to information due to subscription costs or institutional access limitations. This democratization of knowledge fosters equity, enabling researchers, educators, policymakers, and the public worldwide to engage with research findings without financial hindrance. Open access distribution facilitates collaboration, innovation, and the adaptation of research for and from diverse contexts—empowering institutions and individuals to improve practices and outcomes. By removing paywalls, OA promotes transparency and accelerates the global exchange of ideas, vital for addressing challenges including sustainability, health crises, and education and research disparities." (Anderson et al., 2025)

In this session, Professor Rory McGreal will provide a retrospective on OA publishing and the experience of IRRODL over the past twenty-five years as a Diamond open access journal.

Anderson, T., Cookson, P. S., Henderson, S., & McGreal, R. (2025). Twenty-Five Years of Innovation and Knowledge Sharing: The Legacy and Future of the International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 26(1).