DiversaPrática joins the movement for the democratization of scientific knowledge
By Amanda Filoso
Access to information also encompasses the possibility of consulting and using knowledge produced by universities and research institutions. In the academic field, this perspective involves the conditions under which scientific production circulates and the ability of different audiences to find, learn about, and share research findings, reflections, and experiences. Celebrated on September 28, the International Day for Universal Access to Information draws attention to this dimension and to the importance of expanding opportunities for access to knowledge.
This perspective finds one of its main forms of implementation in Open Science. According to UNESCO, Open Science brings together principles and practices aimed at making scientific research accessible to all, encompassing not only access to knowledge but also more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable forms of scientific production. The organization also highlights the potential of Open Science to make scientific processes more transparent, inclusive, and democratic, expanding information sharing and opportunities for the participation of social actors beyond the traditional scientific community.
Scientific communication plays a strategic role in this movement, as it is through communication that a significant portion of the knowledge produced through research reaches other researchers, faculty members, students, and other interested audiences. The policies adopted by academic journals directly affect this process, as they establish conditions for access, sharing, and circulation of published content. Open access, in this sense, constitutes an editorial practice capable of reducing economic barriers to accessing scientific production.
It is within this movement to expand access to and circulation of knowledge that Revista DiversaPrática, a journal of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), operates, focusing on the dissemination of experiences and reflections related to higher education, teaching practices, and continuing education. The journal is part of this context by making its content freely available, allowing published works to be accessed without the need for payment or a specific institutional affiliation.
The open access policy adopted by DiversaPrática is accompanied by other editorial practices that foster the circulation of knowledge. The journal publishes on a continuous-flow basis, making works available as they progress through the stages of the editorial process, and uses the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This license allows content to be shared and used, provided that proper credit is given to the authors and the publication. In this way, access to content is combined with conditions that also promote its dissemination and reuse.
For a journal dedicated to educational practices in higher education, expanding this circulation has a specific dimension. Research, experience reports, and reflections on teaching contribute to the continuous development of educators, extending beyond their initial training. When made openly available, these contents can be consulted by educators at different stages of their professional careers, students in training, and researchers interested in issues related to higher education.
Revista DiversaPrática invites authors to participate in this movement by submitting research, experience reports, and reflections on higher education, teaching practices, and continuing education. To consult the submission guidelines, visit: Submission Guidelines.
