China's Higher Education Sector Embraces Open Access as a Strategic Priority
China's universities and research institutions are advancing open access publishing and international collaboration norms at a measured yet determined pace. This development reflects broader national goals for scientific self-reliance and global knowledge sharing. Institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences are central to these efforts, supported by policies from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education.
Recent initiatives emphasize making government-funded research freely available while strengthening ties with international partners. These changes affect how academics at Chinese universities publish, evaluate, and collaborate on research outputs.
Key Policies Driving Change in Research Dissemination
The National Natural Science Foundation of China introduced open access requirements for funded projects as early as 2014. Researchers must deposit full-text papers in institutional or national repositories shortly after publication. This mandate applies across many higher education institutions and aims to accelerate the spread of basic research findings.
Broader guidelines from the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Education discourage over-reliance on journal impact factors and Science Citation Index metrics for hiring, promotion, and institutional rankings. Universities are shifting focus toward the quality and societal impact of research rather than publication counts alone. These adjustments reduce pressure on early-career academics and encourage diverse dissemination channels, including open access journals.
Institutional Repositories and National Platforms
The Chinese Academy of Sciences operates an extensive institutional repository grid that, by early 2025, held more than 1.42 million full-text papers with millions of downloads. Many of these items are openly accessible. University libraries participate through initiatives like the China Academic Institutional Repository, fostering shared infrastructure for open sharing.
CNKI remains a cornerstone platform for Chinese academic content, hosting millions of journal articles and supporting both domestic and international users. Higher education institutions integrate these tools into daily workflows for students and faculty.
University-Level Implementation and Read-and-Publish Agreements
Leading universities including Fudan, Wuhan, and Zhejiang have entered read-and-publish agreements with international publishers. These arrangements allow corresponding authors from participating institutions to publish open access articles, often with reduced or waived article processing charges. Such deals support the transition to open models while managing costs for library budgets.
Tsinghua University and Peking University stand out for higher rates of international co-authorship in their research outputs. This reflects active engagement with global partners alongside domestic open access pushes.
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
International Collaboration on Open Science Governance
In late 2025, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced an International Action Plan for Cooperation on Open Science developed with partners including the African Union, Brazil, and South Africa. The plan promotes global standards for open scientific knowledge, data sharing, and inclusive participation. Chinese universities contribute through joint projects, workshops, and policy dialogues.
These efforts align with China's emphasis on equitable access and self-reliance in science while maintaining strong co-authorship links with researchers abroad, including in the United States.
Addressing Quality and Research Integrity
Chinese authorities have taken steps to improve publishing standards. Recent actions include the retraction of thousands of articles involving Chinese authors to address issues such as paper mills and questionable practices. Higher education institutions now emphasize responsible research conduct alongside open access mandates.
Training programs at universities focus on research ethics, proper attribution, and avoiding predatory outlets. This balanced approach helps maintain credibility as output volumes grow.
Impacts on Researchers and Career Pathways
Faculty and graduate students at Chinese universities experience shifting incentives. Publishing in high-quality open access venues gains recognition, while data and other non-traditional outputs receive more credit. Reduced emphasis on specific indexed journals eases burdens for PhD candidates and supports diverse career trajectories in academia and industry.
Early-career researchers benefit from clearer pathways to share work widely, potentially increasing visibility and collaboration opportunities.
Challenges in Scaling Open Access
Progress remains gradual compared with some Western regions. Article processing charges, varying institutional resources, and the need for sustainable funding models present hurdles. Many read-and-publish deals concentrate in major cities like Beijing, leaving room for broader participation across provincial universities.
Administrators at smaller institutions work to build capacity through consortia and national support programs.
Future Directions for Chinese Higher Education Research
China's universities are positioned to play a larger role in shaping global open science norms. Continued investment in repositories, policy coordination, and international partnerships supports this trajectory. Integration with artificial intelligence tools for discovery and analysis may further enhance accessibility and impact.
Stakeholders anticipate steady growth in open outputs from Chinese higher education institutions, contributing to worldwide knowledge commons.
Practical Steps for Academics and Administrators
University leaders can review current repository participation and explore new read-and-publish options. Researchers benefit from checking funder requirements early in projects and considering open access venues that align with evaluation criteria. Professional development on research integrity remains valuable across campuses.
These actions help individuals and institutions navigate the evolving landscape effectively.
