By Anette Marcher, AAU Communication. Translated by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication

The Rectorate have decided to withdraw the financial support to Aalborg University Press as of 1 January 2024. This is due to the fact that the senior management team would like a new publishing strategy with greater focus on digital publishing and Open Access.

- The university press has provided a great service over the years, but it has gradually outlived its usefulness. In recent years, the publishing world has evolved in key areas and has become more digitalized and oriented towards new forms of publishing, particularly in Open Access. Given this trend, we would like a new direction in publishing at AAU, Rector Per Michael Johansen says.

The new direction will give AAU researchers better opportunities to publish through the most recognized commercial channels. At the same time, they will more easily be able to meet the Open Access requirements that increasingly accompany research grants.

AAU's financial contribution to the university press amounts to just over half a million kroner a year. In addition, the publisher has occupied office space with Aalborg University Library (AUB) free of charge. Financial support lapses as of 1 January 2024 while the university press can use the premises at Kroghstræde 3 free of charge until mid-2024.