Open Science: Principles and Practices of Open Access in Scientific Publications and Elements of Copyright Law

Course unit for PhD students

Aim

The course aims to provide knowledge of the various models of scientific communication and the landscape of academic publishing, offering practical guidance on the resources, services, and tools made available by the University. The objective is to help students develop the essential skills needed to navigate publishing practices independently, disseminating their research results in Open Access in accordance with institutional, national, and European policies, while respecting copyright law and the principles of Open Science.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the requirements for disseminating research results;
  • Manage the different models of Open Access publishing;
  • Demonstrate critical thinking and evaluation skills in selecting the most appropriate publishing venues for disseminating research results in Open Access, in accordance with institutional, national, and European policies;
  • Demonstrate competence in using the services provided by the University to support best practices in Open Access;
  • Demonstrate the ability to disseminate, deposit, and share their research outputs through institutional repositories;
  • Demonstrate an understanding of copyright law to enable informed management of their rights within publishing practices.

Course contents

Module 1 – Open Access in Scientific Publications: Principles, Policies, and Opportunities

This module will introduce the elements of Open Access and the foundational declarations, the different models of Open Access publishing, and the policies and requirements for funded research. It will also provide an overview of Open Science and emerging developments, as well as the University's commitment to Open Access.

Module 2 – Open Access in Practice: Best Practices and University Services.

This module will present the practical guide to Open Access, exploring topics such as the selection of publishing venues and the University services that support Open Access. These include: Alma Diamond, transformative agreements, institutional repositories (AMS Acta, AMS Historica, AMS Dottorato, AMS Laurea), and support services available in University libraries.

Module 3 – IRIS-IR: The Istitutional Repository for Scientific Production

This module will present the institutional repository for scientific production, focusing in particular on its role in the local, national and international context, on the tools required for entering and managing publications, and on the main features available to users.

Module 4 – Elements of Copyright Law

This module will introduce the legal framework and basic elements of copyright under national legislation, related rights concerning photographs and databases, publishing agreements, and Creative Commons licenses.

 

Assessment method: multiple-choice test

Teaching modes: online

Duration: 12 hours

Available places: 100

Period: June 22-23-24-25 2026, from 10.00  to 13.00.

Language of the course: English

Trainers: Staff AlmaDL, Staff AlmaRE, Staff APPC – Ufficio valutazione della ricerca e della terza missione

Doctoral Credits: 1.