Landscape of Open Access Repositories with Special Reference to Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) across SAARC and BRICS Nations: A Comparative Analysis
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Landscape of Open Access Repositories with Special Reference to Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) across SAARC and BRICS Nations: A Comparative Analysis
Research Outputs stored as softcopy and archived through Open-Access is getting with momentum across the globe. Academic and Research Institutes, meticulously following the research guidelines and policies, are systematically producing and storing research results in sophisticated ETDs in almost every nation. In the digital age, global visibility of research is crucial, with Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) playing a vital role. Open Access Repositories (OARs) have gained traction, led by Europe, North America, and increasingly by Asia. Key repositories like ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global and DART-Europe are instrumental in this movement. Noteworthy ETD repositories in SAARC and BRICS nations which include Shodhganga in India maintained by INLFIBNET Centre, the Digital Archive on Agricultural Theses and Journals in Bangladesh, Pakistan Research Repository, and Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações in Brazil. Starting little late in 2010, India gradually created its Repository and stands out for its substantial contributions to the ETD landscape. (Open ROAR). However, a few challenges remain in establishing comprehensive ETD repositories, given the diverse characteristics of these nations in terms of population size and higher education institutions. Structure and architecture of ETDs, workflow of submissions and authentication, Metadata Standards used, harvesting methods implemented, scalability and interoperability, DRM issues etc. are major concerns while comparing the ETDs across the globe. In order to find out the commonalities and differences, a detailed analysis of ETD repositories across SAARC and BRICS nations is essential.
2024