Aijrhass15 505

American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Available online at http://www.iasir.net

ISSN (Print): 2328-3734, ISSN (Online): 2328-3696, ISSN (CD-ROM): 2328-3688 AIJRHASS is a refereed, indexed, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary and open access journal published by International Association of Scientific Innovation and Research (IASIR), USA (An Association Unifying the Sciences, Engineering, and Applied Research)

Adoption of Open Access Initiative by Lecturers for Teaching and Research in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Lawal Ameenat Olanike, Ibikunle Gladys Omolola Kashim Ibrahim Library Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria Abstract: The research was conducted to examine the “Adoption of Open Access Initiative for Teaching and Research in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Literatures have been reviewed based on the objectives of the study. The findings of the study would improve on the adoption of open access initiatives for teaching and research by lecturers in the university at large. The study used survey research design, the population of the study consist of 1,905 lecturers from the 12 (Twelve) faculties of the university. 10% of the population were used as sample size which is 189 and the response rate was 156 (82.5%). Questionnaire was used to collect data. The data collected have been analyzed through the descriptive statistics using frequency tables and percentages. The study revealed that lecturers are familiar with the open access initiative which comprises of the open access institutional repositories and open access journals. The main recommendation made is that the university should harness the awareness of open access initiative by enlightening lecturers on the adoption of open access initiative through bulleting, conferences, seminars and workshops.

I Introduction Berlin Declaration of Open Access (2003) defines open access as a mode of scholarly work which grants to all users free, worldwide right of access to and a license to copy, use, distribute and display the work publicly for any responsible purpose subject to proper attribution of authorship. This scholarly communication is achieved through two main channels which is the open access journal and the institutional repository. Ogbomo (2012) viewed institutional repository to be a type of digital library established by an institution populated by the staff, researchers, students and other members of the institution and to be consulted by both members of the university and outside world which could include print articles, conferences, committee papers, thesis and dissertations.

Open access journal are peer reviewed journals made available free of charge to the public through the internet (Hiwarde and Rajlaksmi, 2006). Open access journals allows scientific research go beyond the natural and professional barriers and provides opportunity for scientific communication to improve their citation impact and enhance their readability for further growth and development in science and technology (Sarakadam, 2012).

II. Implication of Open Access for Teaching and Research Teaching and research are the fundamental part of any university. Lecturers are the fore runners of any institution because they teach scholars and engage in research in one way or the other. Open access will help academics have access to current and relevant studies. Through the open access lecturers can build on other previously conducted research studies. Lecturers create, share and allow their teaching resources not only to be used but able to be amended, improved and transformed (Ayangwe, 2014).

III. Statement of the Problem The universities and higher institution of learning are engaged in research to facilitate speedy development. The Nigeria is one of the most populated country in Africa with about 138 universities both federal, state and private in which they are involved in research and publishing. Online publication of Nigerian journals are low. The Federal government of Nigeria has made telecommunication equipment services available. Access to scholarly journals are usually on a high cost both in print and electronic (Okoye and Ejikeme, 2010).The adoption of open access is a controversial issue where most scholars have disagreed that majority of lecturers are yet to adopt this.

The Ahmadu Bello University held an international workshop in 2008 to encourage the use of open access repositories which makes the endorsement of journals, dissertations and conference proceedings in the library and information science sector in Nigeria (Okojie, 2008) Suber (2004) opined that the wide spread of ignorance among lecturers may restrict the adoption of open access as well as connectivity, government may also want to limit what users can see and censorship barriers. It is against this background that the study is conducted.

AIJRHASS 15-505; Š 2015, AIJRHASS All Rights Reserved

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Olanike et al., American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 11(1), June-August, 2015, pp. 01-04

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IV. Research Objectives Identify the level of familiarity of open access initiatives by lecturers Challenges to the adoption of open access initiative Strategies put in place to encourage the adoption of open access initiatives for teaching and research.

V. Research Methodology The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised twelve (12) faculties of the university and a population of 1,905 as shown in table 1. The sample size consisted 10% lecturers to make a total of 189 respondents as shown in table 2. Questionnaire were the instrument for data collection. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages.

VI. Findings and Discussion The findings of the study are presented and discussed under the following headings: 1.

Level of familiarity of open access initiative 2.

Challenges to the adoption of open access initiative 3.

Strategies put in place to encourage the adoption of open access initiatives for teaching and research.

Level of Familiarity of Open Access The result on the level of familiarity of open access is presented in table 3 Table 1 Population of the study S/No

Name of Faculty

Number of Lecturers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Administration Agriculture Arts Education Engineering Environmental Design Law Medicine Pharmaceutical Science Science Social Science Vertinary Medicine Total

123 110 128 144 222 183 51 292 102 318 113 119 1905

Table 2 Sample Size S/No

Name of Faculty

Number of Lecturers

Sample

1

Administration

123

12

2 3

Agriculture Arts

110 128

11 13

4

Education

144

14

5

Engineering

222

22

6

Environmental Design

183

18

7

Law

51

5

8

Medicine

292

29

9 10

Pharmaceutical Science Science

102 318

10 32

11

Social Science

113

11

12

Vertinary Medicine

119

12

Total

1905

189

Table 3 Level of Familiarity with Open Access Journal and Institutional Repository S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Faculty Administration Agriculture Arts Education Engineering Environmental Design Law Medicine

Open Access Journal F NAAF 6(3.8) 2(1.3) 5(3.2) 2(1.3) 8(5.1) 2(1.3) 8(5.1) 2(1.3) 10(6.4) 2(1.3) 8(5.1) 2(1.3) 3(1.9) ----12(7.6) 3(1.9)

AIJRHASS 15-505; Š 2015, AIJRHASS All Rights Reserved

RF 1(0.6) 2(1.3) 1(0.6) 1(0.6) 5(3.2) 5(3.2) 1(0.6) 9

Institutional Repository F NAAF 3(1.9) 2(1.3) 5 (3.2) 1(0.6) 4(2.6) 3(1.9) 8(5.1) ---7(4.5) 4(2.6) 5 (3.2) 6(3.8) 1(0.6) 1(0.6) 10(6.4) 8(5.1)

RF 4(2.6) 3(1.9) 4(2.6) 3(1.9) 6(3.8) 4(2.6) 2(1.3) 6(3.8)

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Pharmaceutical Science Science Social Science Vertinary Medicine

10 11 12

6(3.8)

2(1.3)

1(0.6)

6(3.8)

2(1.3)

1(0.6)

16(10.3) 5(3.2) 5(3.2)

3(1.9) 2(1.3) 3(1.9)

9 2(1.3) 2(1.3)

11 3(1.9) 3(1.9)

5 (3.2) 2(1.3) 2(1.3)

1(0.6) 4(2.6) 5 (3.2)

Key F [Familiar], NAAF [Not At All Familiar], RF [Really Familiar] Lecturers were more familiar with the open access journal than the institutional repository, this may be due to the lack of awareness by lecturers on institutional repository. To buttress on the level of familiarity, lecturers were asked for the sources of familiarity which was indicated to be through the university/ library websites 46(29.5%), internet 56(35.9%), conferences 13(8.3%), colleagues 22(14.1%) and workshops/ seminars 45(28.8%). This finding collaborates with a study conducted by (Obuh and Bozimo, 2012) which opined that there is a high level of familiarity of open access repositories by lecturers in the Southern Nigerian.

Table 4 Sources of Familiarity with Open Access Initiative S/No

Sources of Familiarity

Frequency

Percentage

1

University/library website

46

29.5

2

Searching the internet

56

35.9

3

Conference

13

8.3

4

Colleague

22

14.1

5

Workshop/Seminar

45

28.8

The table above indicates that the university has actually created a platform which can enhance the familiarity of lecturers to open access initiatives.

Table 5 Challenges to the Adoption of Open Access Initiatives S/No

Challenges

Frequency

Percentages

1

Lack of awareness of open access in the university

101

64.7

2 3

Unstable power supply Lack of internet search skill

51 52

32.7 33.3

4

Improper archiving of some open access journals

37

23.7

5

Delay in downloading relevant materials

45

28.8

6

Retrieval of much relevant information

77

49.3

7 8

Bandwidth problem in the university Inadequate ICT connectivity and infrastructures

64 34

41 21.8

9

Inadequate bandwidth to host digital repositories

30

19.2

10

Inadequate funding

36

23

11

Copyright and intellectual property right

32

20.5

The main challenges has indicated are lack of awareness of open access in the university, retrieval of much relevant materials, bandwidth problem with frequencies of 101(64.7%), 77 (49.3%) and 64(41%) respectively.

The implication of this is that the lack of awareness is a major stumbling block as well as unstable power supply which is the greatest problem faced in Nigeria with a frequency of 51(22.7%) all these has led to challenges in the successful adoption of open access initiative in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. This is in collaboration with UNESCO that specified low level of awareness among lecturers, lack of skilled manpower to deploy and maintain open access repositories. Ramachandran and Scania (2004) opined that the obstacle to optimizing open access in Nigeria include poor level of awareness of open access in Nigeria and the developing world.

Table 6 Strategies to Promote Open Access Initiative S/No

Strategies to Promote Open Access Initiative

Frequency

Percentage

1

Seminars/Workshops

43

27.6

2

Set up of Institutional Repository

32

20.5

3

Payment of Open Access Journal

28

17.9

4

Not aware of any strategy put in place

53

34.0

The table shows that the university have put in place some strategies to encourage the adoption of open access initiative. 43(27%) were of the opinion that the university organizes seminars and workshops. The implication of this is that a high number of lecturers are not aware of any strategy put in place, this therefore means that the university still need to create other effective platform which will create awareness to all lecturers.

VII. Conclusion It can be concluded that the adoption of open access initiative to scholarly communication has not been fully adopted by some lecturers for teaching and research in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria due to the low level of awareness.

AIJRHASS 15-505; Š 2015, AIJRHASS All Rights Reserved

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Olanike et al., American International Journal of Research in Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 11(1), June-August, 2015, pp. 01-04

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2.

3.

VIII. Recommendation The university should harness the awareness of institutional repository through bulleting, conferences, workshops and it should be addressed appropriately.

Increased bandwidth, training on ICT and as well as stand by generator should be provided in case of any power failure.

The university should go extra mile to improve on the strategies so that lecturers can fully adopt open access initiative for teaching and research.

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Retrieved 20th July 2015 Christian, G.E (2008) Open Access Initiative and the Development World (2008) African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, Vol 18(20) Hirwade, M and Rajyalakshmi, D. (2006) Open Access: India is moving towards third World Super Power. Available at http://eprints.rclis.ors/archive/00006798/01/99107D29.pdfRetneYed. Retrieved 15th May 2015 Obuh, A.O and Bozimo, D (2012) Awareness and use of open access scholarly publications by LIS Lecturers in Sourthern Nigeria. International Journal of Library Science Vol 1 No 4 P 54-60 Ogbomo, E.F (2012) Awareness and Attitudes of Lectures in South-South Federal Universities in Nigeria towards the establishment of institutional Repositories Okojie, V (2008) Strategic approach to open access in Nigeria an international workshop on open access repositories : New models for svholarly communication. Available at http://www.pressreleasepoint.com (200805)12-strateg Sarakadam, S. (2012) available at http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=scinivas-sarakadam . Retrieved 20th June 2015 Swan, A. (2006) Open Access: Impact for Researchers, Universities and Society. Available At www.ub.vu.nl/eneducationresearch/there-site-open-access/index-asp. Retrieved 20th June 2015 Suber, P. (2004) A very Brief Introduction to Open Access. Available at http://www.Earlham.edu/-peters/fos/brief.htm Retrieved 22nd July 2015 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Overview of Open Access in Nigeria. Available at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/portal-and- platforms/goap/access-by-region/africa/nigeria/

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