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Open Research

Open Research aims to open the process of research to all levels of society. This increases the impact, effectiveness, and reproducibility of scholarly research. As a life-changing university committed to engaging in impactful research, we support our research community in adopting open practices.

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Read our Open Research Statement(opens in new tab).

Open Access for research outputs

The University supports open research practices and open access publishing. We have a Research Publications, Open Access and Copyright Policy(.pdf)(opens in new tab) which requires researchers to deposit the accepted manuscript of any peer-reviewed journal or conference proceeding in SURE(opens in new tab) (our institutional repository) within three months of acceptance for publication.

We encourage the deposit of diverse research outputs to SURE including books, book chapters, data, software and code, reports, and practice-based or creative work in line with our open research commitments.

The University also mandates the Open Access deposit of all PhD theses in SURE as a condition of graduation.

Open Access Logo

For assistance and support with Open Research, contact sure@sunderland.ac.uk(opens in new tab).

Open Research support (University of Sunderland Library)

As a researcher, you have access to a wide range of excellent information resources. You're also supported by expert librarians who can help you make the most of these resources.

Read our Open Research and Scholarly Communications Guide(opens in new tab) to learn more.

Responsible use of research metrics

In line with its commitment to open research and the recognition of a wide range of scholarly outputs beyond journal articles, the University is a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration of Research Assessment (DORA).

DORA is an international declaration on the responsible use of ‘metrics’ or research indicators. Its principles are:

  • The need to eliminate the use of journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors, in funding, appointment, and promotion considerations;
  • The need to assess research on its own merits rather than on the basis of the journal in which the research is published; and
  • The need to capitalise on the opportunities provided by online publication (such as relaxing unnecessary limits on the number of words, figures, and references in articles, and exploring new indicators of significance and impact).

Having signed DORA in February 2020, we are now working toward fully implementing its principles.

To embed these commitments in our practice, we have adopted a Responsible Metrics Statement(.pdf)(opens in new tab).

Signatory of DORA logo