26 rectors of Ukrainian universities endorsed the Olvia declaration of the Universities: Academic Freedom, University Autonomy, Science and Education for Sustainable Development at Olvia Forum 2009 (Livadia palace, Yalta, Crimea, Ukraine, June 12, 2009). Open access to research information is described in the Article 2.6:

“Academic freedom includes open access to information (except reasonable exceptions specified by the law of Ukraine), including open access to research information through the development of open repositories and open access journals in the Universities, and ability to communicate freely with the peers in any part of the world.

Open access to information is a significant part of the research in today's globalised world, a key to further development of science, education and society, and Ukraine's integration into the global academic community.”

From the Article 2.11 of the Action Plan on implementing the Olvia declaration of the Universities:

“To practice open access to knowledge Universities and research organizations should:

• develop institutional polices and strategies on open access (free and unrestricted access to full text peer reviewed research results), provide access to, search and usage of the above mentioned works by the faculty to every internet user to increase scientific, social and economic impact of the research;

• launch and develop open institutional repositories and open access journals;

• encourage open use of this information for research and education.”

Congratulations to Tetyana Yaroshenko, University Librarian and Vice President for IT at the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, and eIFL Open Access country coordinator in Ukraine, for being a driving force behind Articles 2.6 and 2.11!

Photos from the Olvia Forum 2009.