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 Annex A: Terms of Reference and Membership

1. Purpose

The purpose of the group is to provide a means through which representatives of the HE sector, research funders, the research community, scholarly publishers, libraries and other interested parties can examine how most effectively to expand access to the quality-assured published outputs of research; and to propose a programme of action to that end.

2. Status

The working group will be independent of Government, but its activities, findings and recommendations will be considered by Government. Initial findings may be reflected, as appropriate, in the Research and Innovation Strategy to be published by Government in the autumn of 2011.

3. Scope

The group’s work will focus on scholarly publications in the form of journal articles, conference proceedings and monographs. It will take account of parallel work relating to research data and other outputs being conducted by the Government Office for Science Funders’ Forum and by the Royal Society. So far as appropriate, it may consider issues as to the relationships and links between scholarly publications and underlying data.

4. Working principles

The group will adopt an evidence-based approach to its work. So far as possible it will work collaboratively and will seek to achieve consensus. Where that is not possible, it will seek to identify precise points of difference.

5. Issues and objectives

The group will take account of and consider work that has already been, or is being, undertaken on issues relating to its purpose and objectives. Where necessary, it may commission additional work to clarify key issues.

The group will

i. appraise the current landscape of access to the published findings of research in the UK and other major producers and consumers of research;

ii. identify the key goals and guiding principles that should underlie public policy on publication of and access to research findings;

iii. in the light of the guiding principles, likely technological and other relevant developments, identify the possible routes and mechanisms in order to achieve the key goals, and the associated costs, risks and benefits;

iv. assess relevant policies and practice, and likely developments, in other countries; and

v. propose a programme of action for all interested parties in the UK.

6. Timing

The group will meet c 4 times, and produce a report in spring 2012.