International Open Access Week 2025
October 20–26, 2025
International Open Access Week is a global event promoting free and immediate access to scholarly research. Now in its 18th year, it invites researchers, institutions, and communities to explore the benefits of Open Access and advocate for more equitable knowledge sharing.
This year’s theme, “Who Owns the Knowledge?”, encourages reflection on access, ownership, and the future of scholarly communication.
At the University of Windsor, Leddy Library is hosting local events and curating a selection of global online activities to showcase Open Access publishing, highlight library services that support it, and foster conversations on transforming scholarly communication.
Leddy Library Open Access Mini Conference
Friday, October 24, 2025
1:00–2:00 PM
Online via Teams – Join the session
Featuring short presentations by University of Windsor faculty, librarians and researchers.
Titles & presenters coming soon.
Feel free to sign up for what interests you and engage with these interesting speakers!
Regional perspectives on Diamond Open Access - SPARC Africa
Sponsored by SPARC Africa, the African affiliate of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), in collaboration with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), and the Association of African Universities (AAU)
Monday, October 20 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Information
Description: This first webinar will focus on Diamond Open Access (DOA) from global and regional perspectives. Speakers representing Africa, USA, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will share insights on how DOA is implemented.The discussion will be guided by the Toluca–Cape Town Declaration on Diamond Open Access, which reaffirms knowledge as a human right and a public good.
The Toluca–Cape Town Declaration on Diamond Open Access
Following the 2023 Toluca Global Summit, we, the 2024 Cape Town Global Summit participants, affirm that sharing knowledge is a human right.
As such, scholarly knowledge must be a public good. It must be accessible to all communities, including readers and authors, without barriers and paywalls. Participation in knowledge production and communication must be free of prejudice and bias.
In line with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, Diamond Open Access is community-owned, community-led, and non-commercial.
Social justice, equity, and inclusivity are fundamental to Diamond Open Access, enabling it to be a driver of decolonisation and demarginalisation.
We commit to regional and language diversity in scholarly communication. The implementation of Diamond Open Access needs to be tailored to address both local and global challenges and supported by systems of research assessment.
"Who Owns Our Knowledge? The Future of Equitable Open Access"
Sponsored by the Open Science Education Institute
Monday, October 20 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Online via Teams. Registration - More Info
Description: Who truly owns the knowledge we create? As open access grows, so do concerns about commercialization, AI exploitation, and inequitable participation. This webinar will explore how to design open access models that center community ownership, protect against extractive practices, and amplify marginalized voices. Panelists will share strategies for balancing openness with privacy and consent, ensuring a future where knowledge is not only free to access but also ethically and equitably shared.
Keynote: Who owns our knowledge? Rethinking Publishing in a Scholar-Led World
Sponsored by the Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
Monday, October 20, 2025 1:00-2:00 pm
Online via Zoom and in-person. Registration - More Info
Description: This presentation will discuss how the proliferation of open access journals, led by scholars and published out of universities from around the world, are challenging publishing models, reshaping access to knowledge, and redefining the global landscape of scholarly communication. Juan Pablo Alperin is the Scientific Director of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), and Associate Professor in the Publishing Program, and the Co-Director of the Scholarly Communications Lab (ScholCommLab) at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Alperin is an established researcher of scholarly communications, known for bringing evidence-based perspectives to pragmatic solutions in support of open access and open science. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed publications and delivered countless presentations on related topics. He serves on the boards and steering committees of various organizations, including the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) and OpenAlex. His work focuses on making scholarly communication more equitable, inclusive, and publicly engaged, particularly across Latin America and the Global South.
Knowledge is Power: Who Owns It, Who Shares It, and Why Libraries Matter
This event is co-sponsored by the UAB Libraries, the UAH Salmon Library, the Georgia State University Library, the Mississippi State University Libraries, and the Alabama Library Association Scholarly Communication Round Table.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 3:00-4:00 pm
Online via Zoom. Registration and More Information
Description: Using this year’s theme, Who Owns Our Knowledge, as a backdrop, panelists will discuss what it means to their libraries’ mission and services. We will also explore how libraries help faculty and students understand their rights as authors and creators, and how they help them to retain ownership of their intellectual property. We will wrap-up by looking ahead at how each panelist envisions the future of libraries as stewards and promoters of knowledge ownership. A Q & A session will immediately follow.
Fast Forward Open Science
This event is hosted by Circle U., an alliance of nine research-intensive universities from across Europe.
Description: On the 22nd of October from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, Circle U. will host the online event ‘Fast forward Open Science’, led by Université Paris Cité, as part of the International Open Access Week 2025. Experts in open access publishing, research data management (emphasis on institutional policies and researcher practices), open source code and software, and open education will come together to share their perspectives, confront challenges, and explore solutions. This half-day programme is an opportunity to hear diverse voices from across our alliance — and beyond — and to reflect together on the future of Open Science. Register before the 20th of October!
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
12:30 PM 3:30 PM CET
Online via registration here.
African Universities Publishing Diamond Open Access on the African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS)
Sponsored by SPARC Africa, the African affiliate of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), in collaboration with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), and the Association of African Universities (AAU)
Thursday, October 23 2025 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Information
Description: A spotlight on the African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS). Speakers from universities already publishing through APOS will share their experiences, challenges, and benefits. This will be a practical session, showing how DOA is being implemented on the continent and how APOS is strengthening scholarly publishing in African universities.
Open Data in the Humanities: Balancing Legal Constraints, FAIR Principles and AI
Sponsored by DaSCH - Swiss National Data and Service Center for the Humanities
Thursday, October 23 2025, 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Online via Zoom. Registration and More Information
Description: How can publicly funded research projects secure their data in the long term while maintaining legal compliance, transparency and guaranteeing the FAIRness of their data? In our online presentation, we share practical experiences from our collaboration with humanities projects. Our focus is on facilitating the sharing and reuse of data by providing clear legal information for the users of our platform. But the reality is often complex: many cultural institutions do not make their archives publicly available or do not allow the data to be reused in its entirety. How could a project reuse material that they are not allowed to share publicly? In addition, new technologies such as AI raise questions – and sometimes fears. What influence can it have on the open access mentality?
“We Are Enough: Practical Open Access for Everyone.”
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries
Thursday, October 23 2025 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Info
Description: A panel discussion with three thought leaders in the field:
Dr. Samuel Moore, Scholarly Communication Specialist at Cambridge University Library, one of the organizers of the Radical Open Access Collective, and author of the forthcoming book Publishing Beyond the Market: Open Access, Care and the Commons
Sarah Lamdan, Deputy Directory of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and author of the widely acclaimed book Data Cartels
Peter Suber, author of the seminal monograph Open Access and a leading theorist of the Open Access movement
October 20–26, 2025
International Open Access Week is a global event promoting free and immediate access to scholarly research. Now in its 18th year, it invites researchers, institutions, and communities to explore the benefits of Open Access and advocate for more equitable knowledge sharing.
This year’s theme, “Who Owns the Knowledge?”, encourages reflection on access, ownership, and the future of scholarly communication.
At the University of Windsor, Leddy Library is hosting local events and curating a selection of global online activities to showcase Open Access publishing, highlight library services that support it, and foster conversations on transforming scholarly communication.
Featured Events
Leddy Library Open Access Mini Conference
Friday, October 24, 2025
1:00–2:00 PM
Online via Teams – Join the session
Featuring short presentations by University of Windsor faculty, librarians and researchers.
Titles & presenters coming soon.
Curated International Events
The following are virtual events, in English, from institutions around the world, curated by our Scholarly Communications Librarian at Leddy Library.Feel free to sign up for what interests you and engage with these interesting speakers!
Regional perspectives on Diamond Open Access - SPARC Africa
Sponsored by SPARC Africa, the African affiliate of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), in collaboration with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), and the Association of African Universities (AAU)
Monday, October 20 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Information
Description: This first webinar will focus on Diamond Open Access (DOA) from global and regional perspectives. Speakers representing Africa, USA, Europe, Latin America and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will share insights on how DOA is implemented.The discussion will be guided by the Toluca–Cape Town Declaration on Diamond Open Access, which reaffirms knowledge as a human right and a public good.
The Toluca–Cape Town Declaration on Diamond Open Access
Following the 2023 Toluca Global Summit, we, the 2024 Cape Town Global Summit participants, affirm that sharing knowledge is a human right.
As such, scholarly knowledge must be a public good. It must be accessible to all communities, including readers and authors, without barriers and paywalls. Participation in knowledge production and communication must be free of prejudice and bias.
In line with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, Diamond Open Access is community-owned, community-led, and non-commercial.
Social justice, equity, and inclusivity are fundamental to Diamond Open Access, enabling it to be a driver of decolonisation and demarginalisation.
We commit to regional and language diversity in scholarly communication. The implementation of Diamond Open Access needs to be tailored to address both local and global challenges and supported by systems of research assessment.
"Who Owns Our Knowledge? The Future of Equitable Open Access"
Sponsored by the Open Science Education Institute
Monday, October 20 2025, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Online via Teams. Registration - More Info
Description: Who truly owns the knowledge we create? As open access grows, so do concerns about commercialization, AI exploitation, and inequitable participation. This webinar will explore how to design open access models that center community ownership, protect against extractive practices, and amplify marginalized voices. Panelists will share strategies for balancing openness with privacy and consent, ensuring a future where knowledge is not only free to access but also ethically and equitably shared.
Keynote: Who owns our knowledge? Rethinking Publishing in a Scholar-Led World
Sponsored by the Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa
Monday, October 20, 2025 1:00-2:00 pm
Online via Zoom and in-person. Registration - More Info
Description: This presentation will discuss how the proliferation of open access journals, led by scholars and published out of universities from around the world, are challenging publishing models, reshaping access to knowledge, and redefining the global landscape of scholarly communication. Juan Pablo Alperin is the Scientific Director of the Public Knowledge Project (PKP), and Associate Professor in the Publishing Program, and the Co-Director of the Scholarly Communications Lab (ScholCommLab) at Simon Fraser University. Dr. Alperin is an established researcher of scholarly communications, known for bringing evidence-based perspectives to pragmatic solutions in support of open access and open science. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed publications and delivered countless presentations on related topics. He serves on the boards and steering committees of various organizations, including the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA) and OpenAlex. His work focuses on making scholarly communication more equitable, inclusive, and publicly engaged, particularly across Latin America and the Global South.
Knowledge is Power: Who Owns It, Who Shares It, and Why Libraries Matter
This event is co-sponsored by the UAB Libraries, the UAH Salmon Library, the Georgia State University Library, the Mississippi State University Libraries, and the Alabama Library Association Scholarly Communication Round Table.
Tuesday, October 21, 2025 3:00-4:00 pm
Online via Zoom. Registration and More Information
Description: Using this year’s theme, Who Owns Our Knowledge, as a backdrop, panelists will discuss what it means to their libraries’ mission and services. We will also explore how libraries help faculty and students understand their rights as authors and creators, and how they help them to retain ownership of their intellectual property. We will wrap-up by looking ahead at how each panelist envisions the future of libraries as stewards and promoters of knowledge ownership. A Q & A session will immediately follow.
Fast Forward Open Science
This event is hosted by Circle U., an alliance of nine research-intensive universities from across Europe.
Description: On the 22nd of October from 1:30 to 4:30 pm, Circle U. will host the online event ‘Fast forward Open Science’, led by Université Paris Cité, as part of the International Open Access Week 2025. Experts in open access publishing, research data management (emphasis on institutional policies and researcher practices), open source code and software, and open education will come together to share their perspectives, confront challenges, and explore solutions. This half-day programme is an opportunity to hear diverse voices from across our alliance — and beyond — and to reflect together on the future of Open Science. Register before the 20th of October!
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
12:30 PM 3:30 PM CET
Online via registration here.
African Universities Publishing Diamond Open Access on the African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS)
Sponsored by SPARC Africa, the African affiliate of the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition (SPARC), in collaboration with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), and the Association of African Universities (AAU)
Thursday, October 23 2025 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Information
Description: A spotlight on the African Platform for Open Scholarship (APOS). Speakers from universities already publishing through APOS will share their experiences, challenges, and benefits. This will be a practical session, showing how DOA is being implemented on the continent and how APOS is strengthening scholarly publishing in African universities.
Open Data in the Humanities: Balancing Legal Constraints, FAIR Principles and AI
Sponsored by DaSCH - Swiss National Data and Service Center for the Humanities
Thursday, October 23 2025, 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Online via Zoom. Registration and More Information
Description: How can publicly funded research projects secure their data in the long term while maintaining legal compliance, transparency and guaranteeing the FAIRness of their data? In our online presentation, we share practical experiences from our collaboration with humanities projects. Our focus is on facilitating the sharing and reuse of data by providing clear legal information for the users of our platform. But the reality is often complex: many cultural institutions do not make their archives publicly available or do not allow the data to be reused in its entirety. How could a project reuse material that they are not allowed to share publicly? In addition, new technologies such as AI raise questions – and sometimes fears. What influence can it have on the open access mentality?
“We Are Enough: Practical Open Access for Everyone.”
Sponsored by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries
Thursday, October 23 2025 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Online via Zoom. Registration - More Info
Description: A panel discussion with three thought leaders in the field:
Dr. Samuel Moore, Scholarly Communication Specialist at Cambridge University Library, one of the organizers of the Radical Open Access Collective, and author of the forthcoming book Publishing Beyond the Market: Open Access, Care and the Commons
Sarah Lamdan, Deputy Directory of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and author of the widely acclaimed book Data Cartels
Peter Suber, author of the seminal monograph Open Access and a leading theorist of the Open Access movement