Deadline: 29-Jun-2026
The DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award is a funding initiative that supports institutions across Asia in promoting open access publishing, ethical scholarly communication, and awareness of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Selected institutions receive €300 to conduct workshops, training, and outreach activities that improve understanding of open access standards and practices in academia.
DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award (Academic Open Access Initiative)
The DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award is designed to strengthen awareness and adoption of open access publishing practices across Asian academic and research communities.
It supports institutions in organizing educational and outreach activities that promote:
- Open access publishing awareness
- Ethical scholarly communication
- Understanding of quality publishing standards
- Increased visibility of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
The initiative focuses on building capacity among universities, researchers, librarians, and academic organizations.
Key Objectives of the Award
The program is built around improving the scholarly publishing ecosystem through:
Open Access Awareness
- Educating academic communities about open access publishing
- Encouraging free and accessible dissemination of research
DOAJ Promotion
- Increasing awareness of the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
- Encouraging use of DOAJ-listed journals for ethical publishing
Ethical Scholarly Publishing
- Promoting responsible publishing practices
- Reducing predatory and low-quality journal publishing risks
Quality Standards in Publishing
- Strengthening understanding of peer review and editorial integrity
- Encouraging adherence to global publishing standards
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants
Applications must come from individuals or teams affiliated with organizations based in Asia, including:
- Universities and higher education institutions
- Research institutes
- Academic and research libraries
- Scholarly societies and academic networks
- Non-profit organizations in scholarly communication
Priority Countries
Preference is given to applicants from:
- Bangladesh
- Philippines
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
Funding Details
- Award amount: €300 per selected institution
- Type: Small grant for awareness and outreach activities
- Purpose:
- Workshops and training programs
- Seminars and academic events
- Outreach and awareness campaigns
- Educational material development
Additional support may be required from host institutions for:
- Venue arrangements
- Travel or accommodation for speakers
- Printing and logistics
- Administrative support
Supported Activities
Institutions can use the grant to organize:
Workshops and Training
- Open access publishing training sessions
- DOAJ usage and awareness workshops
- Research integrity and publishing ethics sessions
Seminars and Outreach Events
- Academic seminars on scholarly communication
- Awareness talks for students and researchers
- Institutional open access advocacy events
Educational Material Development
- Slides and presentations
- Flyers and posters
- Gamified learning materials (provided by DOAJ resources)
Use of DOAJ Resources
Awardees are encouraged to use official DOAJ materials such as:
- Training slides and presentations
- Workshop toolkits
- Flyers and stickers
- Gamified educational content
All developed materials should be shared via:
- DOAJ Zenodo Community
- Licensed under CC BY-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike)
Responsibilities of Awardees
Selected institutions are responsible for:
- Managing funds according to institutional financial rules
- Organizing at least one awareness activity
- Ensuring completion within awarded budget
- Covering any additional costs through institutional support
- Documenting and reporting outcomes
Required Outputs
Each award recipient must deliver:
- At least one workshop, seminar, or outreach event
- Shared training materials or presentations (openly licensed)
- A short blog post describing the activity
- Event documentation (photos or communication materials)
Selection Criteria
Applications are evaluated based on:
Relevance
- Alignment with open access and DOAJ goals
Feasibility
- Realistic planning of activities and budget
Impact
- Potential benefit to academic and research communities
Institutional Support
- Availability of organizational backing and resources
Collaboration Potential
- Opportunities for partnerships and knowledge sharing
Why the DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award Matters
This initiative strengthens academic publishing ecosystems by:
- Expanding access to scholarly research
- Reducing barriers to scientific knowledge
- Improving awareness of ethical publishing practices
- Supporting librarians, researchers, and institutions in capacity building
- Encouraging transparent and high-quality academic communication
It is especially valuable in regions where open access adoption is still developing.
How the Program Works (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 — Application Submission
Institutions submit a proposal including:
- Planned activity (workshop, seminar, outreach)
- Target audience
- Budget outline
- Expected outcomes
Step 2 — Evaluation Process
Applications are reviewed based on:
- Relevance to open access goals
- Feasibility and clarity
- Institutional commitment
- Expected academic impact
Step 3 — Selection of Awardees
- Selected institutions receive €300 funding support
- Activities are approved for implementation
Step 4 — Implementation Phase
- Institutions conduct awareness and training activities
- Use DOAJ resources and materials
Step 5 — Reporting & Output Submission
- Submit blog post
- Share training materials via DOAJ Zenodo Community
- Provide event documentation
Common Mistakes Applicants Should Avoid
- Submitting unclear or vague activity plans
- Weak alignment with open access objectives
- Unrealistic budgets or execution plans
- Lack of institutional support
- Ignoring required deliverables (blog, materials, documentation)
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly define target audience (students, librarians, researchers)
- Focus on practical open access awareness outcomes
- Use DOAJ resources effectively in planning
- Ensure realistic and well-structured budgeting
- Highlight long-term academic impact
- Include institutional backing and collaboration plans
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award?
It is a grant program that supports institutions in Asia to promote open access publishing and DOAJ awareness.
How much funding is provided?
Selected institutions receive €300 to conduct outreach and training activities.
Who can apply?
Universities, research institutes, libraries, scholarly organizations, and non-profits in Asia.
What activities are supported?
Workshops, seminars, training sessions, and awareness campaigns on open access publishing.
What is DOAJ?
The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a curated index of high-quality open access journals.
Do applicants need institutional support?
Yes, additional institutional support (venue, logistics, travel) is encouraged.
What are the required outputs?
A workshop, shared materials, a blog post, and event documentation.
Conclusion
The DOAJ Open Access Engagement Asia Award is a capacity-building initiative that strengthens awareness of ethical and high-quality open access publishing across Asia. By supporting institutions with funding, training resources, and dissemination opportunities, it helps build stronger academic communication systems and promotes accessible, responsible scholarly research.
For more information, visit DOAJ.