NU Open Access Week 2024, which took place from October 21 to 24, 2024 brought together a vibrant community of researchers, librarians, and open access enthusiasts to explore key topics related to open access and open educational resources. The event attracted a diverse group of participants throughout the week.
On October 21, the week kicked off with a workshop on the Benefits of Open Education Resources. This session was presented online by Dr. Paola Corti, OE Community Manager, SPARC Europe . The workshop attracted participants, including librarians from Maksut Narikbayev University, and was an engaging session that provided attendees with valuable insights into open education resources.
The next day, October 22, featured a Publisher Talk on Community-Oriented Publishing, presented by Aiman Ashimkhan, the regional manager for Kazakhstan and CIS countries for Wiley. The session attracted participants, including from Maxut Narikbayev University and the National Academic Library, offered an informative overview of how publishing can be oriented toward community interests.
On October 23, the event continued with a Q&A session/workshop titled Community Voices - Open Access Success Stories, featuring Dr. Giorgia Troiani, Postdoctoral Scholar at School of Sciences & Humanities, NU; Dr. Syed Manan, Associate Professor at Graduate School of Education, NU, and Dr. Chester Jablonski, Vice Provost for Research, NU . This interactive session brought together participants, including students, faculty, librarians, and university staff, who shared experiences and discussed the successes of open access initiatives. A lively coffee break allowed for further networking and informal discussions with the speakers and the library director - Dr. Jerald Cavanagh.
The final event on October 24 was a fun and educational activity held in the library reading room called "Spin for Open Access". The game attracted undergraduate students, and small prizes were awarded to the winners.
Throughout the week, a Book Display on Exploring Open Scholarship was available in the library’s reading room, offering participants the chance to explore a curated collection of resources related to open scholarship. This display was open to attendees from 10:00 to 17:00 each day. In addition to the physical display, a virtual book display was also made available on the Primo, allowing remote participants and others in NU community to access the featured resources online.
An online interview were featured throughout the week, providing insights into the impact of open access on various communities. The interview included perspectives from key figures in the field, such as Dr. O'Donnell, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, NU; Dr. Cavanagh, NU library director; Dr. L. Rojas, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies; Dr. Giorgia Troiani and Dr. Berikbol Dukeyev, Postdoctoral Scholars, SSH, NU; Dr. Gulnur Kalimuldina, Assistant Professor at SEDS, NU. The interview further enriched the content of Open Access Week and allowed participants to engage with global thought leaders in the open access movement.
NU Open Access Week 2024 was conducted to contribute generally in providing valuable learning opportunities and fostering important conversations around open access, open education, and community-driven publishing. The event brought together participants from various sectors, allowing them to connect, share experiences, and deepen their understanding of open access and its benefits.
