Open Access Policy for Theses and Dissertations of Malaysian Higher Education Institutions
The Open Access Policy for Theses and Dissertations of Malaysian Higher Education Institutions is formulated to support the development of a more open, transparent, and high-impact research ecosystem. This policy is not only intended to enable open access to scholarly content, but also serves as an official guideline for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in formulating, implementing, and monitoring open access policies at their respective institutional levels. The three main objectives of this policy are as follows:
1. Expanding Access to Scholarly Knowledge
To enable the research outputs of postgraduate students, particularly theses and dissertations, to be openly accessible to the research community, students, educators, policymakers, and the general public. This open access supports the unrestricted dissemination of knowledge and strengthens a culture of lifelong learning.
2. Enhancing the Visibility and Impact of Local ResearchTo provide wider exposure to research produced by students of higher education institutions, thereby increasing citations, academic collaboration, and the reputation of researchers and institutions at both national and international levels.
3. Supporting the Empowerment of a Knowledge-Based EconomyKnowledge that is openly shared facilitates the transfer of knowledge across various sectors, including industry and the community. This helps to generate innovation, support evidence-based public policy development, and contribute to the country’s socio-economic growth.
