The University of Surrey has officially terminated its subscription agreement with academic publishing giant Elsevier, citing financial unsustainability under the current Jisc-negotiated terms.
This decision follows a similar move by the University of Sheffield, highlighting growing concerns within UK higher education regarding the affordability of publisher agreements. Surrey had previously been part of the collective arrangements managed by Jisc, which negotiates subscription deals on behalf of UK institutions.
A spokesperson from Surrey stated that the university continuously reviews its commercial subscriptions for value for money and concluded that the Jisc-negotiated ‘Read and Publish’ deal with Elsevier was no longer viable under current financial conditions. However, the university clarified that it would continue subscribing to the most-used Elsevier journals and provide students and researchers with access to content through post-cancellation access, open-access channels, and inter-library loans.
Surrey also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Jisc and other publishers on future agreements that prioritize financial sustainability, transparency, and equity.
Elsevier acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by institutions and expressed its ongoing collaboration with Jisc to offer support, emphasizing its continued agreements with over 150 UK institutions.
The publication rights for Surrey researchers in Elsevier journals remain unaffected by this decision.