New Frontiers of Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Methods
3. Results
3.1. From Print to Digital
3.1.1. Promises and Benefits
3.1.2. Challenges
3.1.3. Case Studies and Best Practices
3.1.4. Concerns and Critics
3.2. Toward Open Access
3.2.1. “Low-Hanging Fruit”
3.2.2. Benefits
3.2.3. Limitations
3.2.4. Other Issues
3.3. The Increasing Role of Data
3.3.1. Research Data
3.3.2. Metadata
4. Discussion
5. Concluding Remarks
- Library and information scientists, along with academic librarians, should facilitate empirical assessments of ETD programs by creating a standardized conceptual and methodological framework. This framework should emphasize metadata and persistent identifiers, usage and impact metrics, and long-term preservation and ensure that institutional repositories are FAIR and trustworthy;
- Scientists and librarians should strengthen the global ETD community of practice by establishing an ETD observatory—an online platform for researchers, information professionals, and service providers. This platform would enable the analysis and discussion of ETD program development, advocate for their integration into the changing landscape of academic publishing, and provide support through information sharing and training, considering diverse local and regional contexts;
- Scientists and librarians should closely monitor the effects of AI on the creation, processing, dissemination, and utilization of ETDs. While technology is a key factor, legal, ethical, and political issues also need urgent assessment;
- There is a need for research and tools focused on increasing the usability of ETDs. For example, efforts should be made to develop citation analysis methodologies suitable for ETDs and establish specific metrics to assess their usability. This will enhance the understanding of how ETDs are utilized and their impact on the academic community.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Potential Benefits | Challenges, Issues, and Concerns |
---|---|
Improved availability | New culture required |
Larger audience | New formats, standards, and workflows |
Improved impact and usefulness | Lack of skills, knowledge, and awareness |
Empowering students | Insufficient technical and financial resources |
Reduced processing costs | Additional workload |
Reduced shelf space for storage | Long-term preservation |
More timely public access | Legal and ethical concerns |
Potential Benefits | Limitations |
---|---|
Improved visibility and accessibility | Undefined policies |
Increased usage and impact | Restricted access |
Valorization of students | Insufficient metadata quality (including persistent identifiers) |
Potential for AI tools | Insufficient standards |
Increased content quality | Long-term preservation |
Data | Metadata |
---|---|
Rich and unique sources of scientific information | Importance of quality control |
Potential data for Text and Data Mining (TDM) and AI | Need for standardization and interoperability (FAIR principles) |
Access to related research data | Relevance for research information management |
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Schöpfel, J.; Boock, M.; Rasuli, B.; van Wyk, B. New Frontiers of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Encyclopedia 2025, 5, 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5010006
Schöpfel J, Boock M, Rasuli B, van Wyk B. New Frontiers of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Encyclopedia. 2025; 5(1):6. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5010006
Chicago/Turabian StyleSchöpfel, Joachim, Michael Boock, Behrooz Rasuli, and Brenda van Wyk. 2025. "New Frontiers of Electronic Theses and Dissertations" Encyclopedia 5, no. 1: 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5010006
APA StyleSchöpfel, J., Boock, M., Rasuli, B., & van Wyk, B. (2025). New Frontiers of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Encyclopedia, 5(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5010006