Case Study

STM OA Dashboard: Monitoring for progress

 

SUMMARY

In 2023 STM launched the Open Access (OA) Dashboard. The OA Dashboard is a reliable and freely available resource for those seeking insights on OA publishing trends. It was developed to provide objective data and clear analysis on global OA uptake and its drivers.   

The OA Dashboard combines data on the OA publishing landscape, with cuts based on OA type, discipline, geographical location including Low- and High-income settings (using Research4Life country set) and funder. It also evaluates OA publishing options and coverage under transformative (read and publish) agreements and OA books. The data is updated annually to provide a rolling ten-year snapshot of the open research landscape.   

By working collaboratively with its members, combining multiple data sources and foregrounding transparency, STM developed an accessible and consistent resource for analysing trends in OA. Since its creation, the OA Dashboard has successfully become a go-to resource for mapping the rise of gold OA, the increase in OA publishing options offered by STM publisher members and the role that transformative (read and publish) agreements have played in OA uptake. 

 

WHAT ACTIONS WERE TAKEN?

  • Collaboration: The success of the OA Dashboard relies on collaboration. STM pulled together the expertise of its publisher members, external data sets and the strategic advice of Research Consulting to create the concept.    
  • Consistency: Establishing consistent reporting was a key action in enabling reliable monitoring and helping publishers support researchers and institutions in their OA journeys. Through consistent annual updates STM has been able to produce trusted data that allows the community to analyse the evolution of OA and the variety of publishing options available to authors. For example, in 2024 gold OA was an option for 80% of articles globally.  
  • Communication: Clear communication supports consistent monitoring. STM accompanies the annual update with headline figures and key takeaways. These communications help the community to quickly and easily grasp the latest trends in OA.  The charts are easy to access and filter according to the user’s needs.

Case study contributor & organisation

Lucy Derges
Manager of Research, STM

Lucy coordinates research projects that deliver data analysis, resources and reports to inform STM’s work with stakeholders. She monitors industry developments and gathers research to support global advocacy work.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Politics, two postgraduate certificates in International Affairs and a master’s degree in Publishing.  She has previously worked as a Global Marketing Manager and spent ten years in the UK Civil Service as a Policy Analyst and Relationship Manager.

Explore the OA Dashboard

Key Takeaways

Utilising diverse data sources is an important factor in creating a holistic view of OA. To build the OA Dashboard, STM took the innovative approach of combining multiple data sources into a single platform. While largely powered by Scopus data (both proprietary and from openly available sources such as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Dashboard also runs on ESAC and Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB) data. This mixed model allows users to interrogate data from across the industry, in a single easy-to-use interface.  

The OA Dashboard was developed with transparency and open communication in mind. The OA Dashboard and its underlying data are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 (CC BY-NC) license. Further, the methodology, definitions and limitations are clearly described on the OA Dashboard to allow for increased reproducibility.  Users can also immediately download the data in full for re-use. 

These efforts mean users can re-use the data for non-commercial purposes and many have done just that in reports, presentations and articles.   

The dashboard provides multiple data cuts to generate objective insights.  It is possible to compare uptake between STM and SSH disciplines, the most influential funders and across global regions so that trends relating to barriers and equity can be observed and studied.  The dashboard highlights not only the uptake of OA but also the rate at which it has been made available to and chosen by authors. 

The dashboard supports open communication through varied data insights enabling users to critically analyse of the uptake of OA and its drivers.