From Open Access to Open Assessment: Institutional Repositories as Engines of Research Culture Change

Dr Sadiat Adetoro Salau’s presentation, From Open Access to Open Assessment: Institutional Repositories as Engines of Research Culture Change, explores how redefining institutional assessment can transform academic behaviour. Because what universities reward dictates publication choices, data sharing, and societal accessibility, the presentation advocates for Responsible Research Assessment (RRA). RRA shifts evaluation criteria away from mere quantity and citation counts toward quality, research integrity, openness, diverse outputs, and societal impact.

To support this shift, Institutional Repositories (IRs) must move beyond being seen as mere library shelves and instead serve as critical digital research infrastructure. By collecting diverse outputs such as datasets and theses, connecting them globally via ORCID and DOIs, and providing auditable evidence for promotion panels, IRs bridge fragmented academic systems. Ultimately, universities already possess the necessary components; success relies on leveraging existing repositories, updating promotion criteria, and engaging leadership to drive a sustainable open research culture.