Table 9 RLTW Matrix on the aspect of access opportunities (AO) as conditions for the acceptance, dissemination and use of OA in VET research

Technical and structural conditions

Authors design their own OA publication without an institutionally provided technical infrastructure; Author uses repositories or the like for OA publications.

Implementation of AO through financing from APCs; Waiving of Digital Rights Management (DRM); Use of technical formats that are available to all (PDF).

Implementation of AO and research opportunities through permanent availability (e.g. in repositories) Publication possibilities are certified (long-term archive concept is in place), are indexed in search engines and exhibit a high degree of usability (research and publication procedures).

Policy-related and normative conditions

AO through support for the advancement of an (IT) infrastructure; Author uses open licence models whenever possible; Author uses OA publication opportunities and OA funding.

Implementation of AO through the application of copyright law/limitations on copyright.

Financial support, e.g. through cost absorption of APCs of the universities/funding providers; this will make access to publications free of charge for readers.

Conditions inherent within the academic research system

AO are implemented because OA is acknowledged in the academic community; Better participation in the academic discourse through OA and respective AO.

Academic research community is calling for modern AO, because modern AO publications can easily be sent and linked to within the academic community (mailing lists, social media platforms, repositories).

Online access, download, dispatch, linking of OA publications as part of the academic research discourse; Recognition of OA journals etc. by the research community as a prerequisite for providing AO to authors and readers.