PU hosting International Open Access Week till October 26

Chandigarh, October 24, 2025: The Department of Library and Information Science, Panjab University, Chandigarh, is organising the International Open Access Week from 20th to 26th October 2025 to promote awareness and discussion on open access, scholarly communication, and equitable knowledge dissemination. This annual global event serves as a platform for librarians, researchers, and students to engage with the philosophy of open knowledge and to reflect on the barriers to access in the digital and academic environment.
Professor Rupak Chakravarty, Chairperson, in his inaugural address, emphasised the significance of Open Access (OA) in democratising information and bridging the gap between research creation and public availability. He also discussed various national and international initiatives undertaken to support open access in the field of Library and Information Science.
As part of the Open Access Week celebration, the department conducted a series of interactive and creative activities to engage students. One of the major highlights was a Poster-Making Competition on the theme “Who Controls Our Knowledge?” Participants artistically represented their understanding of open access, digital freedom, copyright restrictions, and the democratisation of information. The competition witnessed enthusiastic participation from postgraduate students, research scholars, and faculty members. The posters showcased innovative ideas and critical reflections on how control over information affects academic freedom and public knowledge dissemination.
The winners of the Poster-Making Competition were decided by distinguished alumni from the 1991 batch — Dr. Rajesh Jhamb and Mr. Sanjeev Guleria — who served as judges for the event. They selected the First, Second, and Third Prize winners based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and presentation.
In addition to the poster event, a Quiz Competition on Open Access was also organised to test participants’ knowledge and awareness of open access resources, scholarly publishing, and intellectual property rights. The First, Second, and Third Prize winners of the quiz were also announced at the closing ceremony.