Start your Experience!

Giving researchers and postgrad students a leg up
2017-10-25

The University of the Free State (UFS) Sasol Library celebrated Open Access Month in October 2017.  This was an opportunity for academics and postgraduate students to learn more about the newest facilities available to them for publishing their research, and how the library is able to assist them in doing so safely and securely, without jeopardising any future academic work and ratings. Open Access Month kicked off with an open day held at the Sasol Library on 12 October 2017.

The week of 24 to 27 October started with the official launch of the newest platform for publishing UFS academic journals, KovsieJournals on Open Journal Systems (OJS). Prof Corli Witthuhn, Vice-Rector: Research, said access to journals and publishing in them was a step in the right direction for UFS researchers. It also provides a platform to showcase the university’s researcher outputs, and assists postgraduate students in making their work reach far and wide. Betsy Eister, Director: Library and Information Services, said the platform sets itself apart and fares well against international standards, having developed over time with the needs of researchers in mind. 

A series of presentations was attended by academic staff, postgraduate students, and library staff, covering topics such as how to share research on KovsieScholar, and publishing on Open Access journals, presented by Prof Abdon Atangana from the Institute for Groundwater Studies.  Other discussions included tips on how to identify predatory publications that can turn out to be scams, fake conferences, and other pitfalls that academics and future researchers may fall into and which could jeopardise their rating with the National Research Foundation (NRF).  A number of other UFS departments that participated in the information sessions, included the Directorate: Research Development, Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS), and the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL).

Open Access Week is celebrated annually and is coordinated by the Library and Information Services on the Bloemfontein Campus.

Connect with Student Affairs
ISRC Information

Office for Student Governance

Student Leadership Development

Student Counselling and Development


We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful, to better understand how they are used and to tailor advertising. You can read more and make your cookie choices here. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept