Open Access is a publishing model that makes scholarly research freely available to everyone, without financial, legal, or technical barriers. Under Open Access, readers can access, read, download, copy, distribute, and use research outputs online without subscription fees, ensuring that knowledge is shared widely and equitably across the global academic and professional community.

The Open Access approach promotes greater visibility, accessibility, and impact of research. By removing paywalls, it enables researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public to benefit from current scientific and scholarly findings regardless of institutional or geographic limitations. This model is especially valuable in supporting education, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making in resource-limited settings.

Open Access publishing also upholds principles of transparency and academic integrity. Authors typically retain copyright to their work while granting users permission to reuse the content with proper attribution, often through Creative Commons licenses. By fostering collaboration, accelerating knowledge dissemination, and encouraging inclusive participation in research, Open Access plays a vital role in advancing global scholarship and societal development.