The University of York has become the latest UK institution to cancel its subscription deal with the academic publishing giant Elsevier, citing financial sustainability concerns. This move follows similar decisions by the University of Sheffield and the University of Surrey, as universities face increasing pressure on their financial resources.
A spokesperson for the University of York stated, “Following a review of all our commercial subscriptions, we have opted not to renew with Elsevier. The ‘all-inclusive’ model offered by Elsevier is no longer suitable for us. As a university, we need to adopt a more financially sustainable approach to our subscriptions and open access publications.”
The decision comes as part of a broader trend, with all three universities opting out of deals negotiated by Jisc, the UK higher education sector’s representative for publisher agreements. York has since renegotiated an alternative agreement with Elsevier, opting for a selection of individual journals instead of the comprehensive Jisc-negotiated package.
Elsevier responded, stating: “Through the Jisc consortium, we have an agreement with over 150 institutions in the UK and are delighted to continue working with them going into 2025.” The publisher acknowledged the financial challenges faced by institutions and emphasized its commitment to supporting UK universities through ongoing collaborations with Jisc.