The importance of an Institutional Repository in Universities.
In the current context of Higher Education, where the production and dissemination of knowledge are fundamental, the institutional repository has become a key tool for universities. Not only does it act as a digital archive where the institution's academic production is stored and preserved, but it also plays a crucial role in the visibility and access to the knowledge generated by its researchers. In this sense, the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA) states that having an institutional repository is not only recommended, but mandatory.
What is an Institutional Repository?
An institutional repository is a digital system that collects, organises and preserves the intellectual production of a university. This includes research papers, theses, dissertations, articles, reports and other documents that reflect the academic and scientific work of the institution. These repositories make knowledge accessible to both the academic community and the general public, thus fostering the exchange of information and the advancement of knowledge.
ANECA's obligation
ANECA, responsible for the evaluation and accreditation of the quality of universities in Spain, has established clear criteria that underline the need for an institutional repository. The existence of such a repository not only facilitates the management of academic output, but is also an indicator of a university's maturity and commitment to the transparency, accessibility and quality of its research. Having an institutional repository allows universities to comply with ANECA regulations, thus improving their positioning and reputation.
Advantages of an Institutional Repository
Visibility and Access to Knowledge: A repository facilitates access to the university's scientific production, increasing its visibility at national and international level. This benefits researchers, who can share their work and receive citations, which in turn enhances their CV and the prestige of the institution.
2. Preservation of Scholarly Output: Repositories allow for the long-term preservation of scholarly works, ensuring that the knowledge generated is not lost over time. This preservation is vital for future generations of researchers.
3. Fostering Collaboration: By facilitating access to information, institutional repositories promote collaboration between researchers, both within the same university and with other institutions. This can lead to joint projects, shared publications and enrichment of scholarly work.
4. Compliance with Open Regulations and Policies: Many research funders require results to be published in open access. An institutional repository helps to comply with these requirements, ensuring that research results are accessible to the public, which in turn increases transparency in the use of public funds.
5. Boosting Innovation and Development: By making research more accessible, institutional repositories can stimulate innovation and development in various areas, allowing businesses, entrepreneurs and society at large to benefit from academic advances.
The creation and maintenance of an institutional repository in a university is not only a requirement of ANECA, but a strategic investment in the future of the institution. As scientific and scholarly output continues to grow, it is essential to have a system in place to ensure its visibility, preservation and access. In doing so, universities not only comply with regulations, but also contribute to the advancement of knowledge and to social and economic development.
We encourage you to discover the UDIT repository where you will find scientific articles, book chapters, conferences, masterclasses, parades and a large number of TFGs and TFMs of the different degrees that make up our university.
