Major Negotiations
Achieving greater outcomes for Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand (AAoNZ) CAUL Members:
Universities in the Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand (AAoNZ) region are navigating a complex and shifting landscape marked by policy uncertainty, immense financial pressure, and escalating calls for demonstrable community and industry impact. Maintaining public trust in research and improving universities’ social licence depends on transparent, reproducible scholarship and responsible stewardship of public funds. In this context, a sustainable and affordable approach to open research is vital for the sustainability of our institutions and the preservation of credibility and trust, as well as maximising the value and impact of the research in the region.
CAUL Negotiation Objectives:
- Ensuring transparent, fair and equitable value
- Maximising open access publishing opportunities
- Exploring new and innovative agreement models
- Advancing the transition to full OA
These objectives build on existing agreement principles and statements that provide value frameworks for new agreements:
- CAUL Agreement Principles (2024)
- OA2020 16th and 17th Berlin Open Access Conference Statements
- Barcelona Declaration
- How Equitable Is It? A draft framework for assessing scholarly communication models on the axis of equity
Approach and timeline
2025 is the pivotal year. Negotiations will focus on recalibrating the terms that underpin our major agreements and reasserting CAUL’s role in shaping fair, equitable models. The anticipated timeline includes:
- January - July 2025: Negotiation preparations – engagement with UA/UNZ, engagement with Members, establishment of new working groups, establishment of COANSC, MOUs issued, and development of CAUL’s initial proposals
- July–August 2025: Negotiations commence; Publishers respond with counter-offers
- September–October 2025: Negotiations continue; CAUL and institutional representatives finalise targets and contingency strategies.
- November: Negotiation outcomes confirmed by COANSC and CAUL Board
- December 2025: Agreements confirmed, or contingency plans initiated
Sector involvement and alignment:
Negotiations will ensure representation from diverse institutions across the AAoNZ region. Working groups have been established to support the CAUL Procurement team in developing detailed negotiation plans, while the establishment of the CAUL Open Access Negotiation Strategy Committee (COANSC) will ensure the voice of senior academic leaders are represented clearly in the negotiations. Diversity will be central to the creation of these groups and committees.
For further information
Hero Macdonald | Chair, Content Procurement Committee
Angus Cook | Director, Content Procurement Service