Abstract
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) need to ensure that the education provided
meets the student’s and employer’s requirements, for today and the future. However, in
addition to the challenges of teaching and learning, internationalisation, globalisation and
world university rankings are rearing their heads thus increasing the demands made on many
HEIs.
Objective: One of the ways in which HEIs can make their mark is through world university
rankings. This may be achieved by exposing more information on new and innovative research
knowledge to the broader community in the global market via research publications that
attract citations on open access platforms, hence influencing the university’s ranking. For this
purpose and intent, a ‘simple’ and ‘easy-to-use’ online web tool was developed at a HEI. The
aim was to have research publications submitted via the Online Research Output Submission
System (OROSS) tool, screened and deposited in the institution’s open access database.
Method: Training was provided to the relevant participants and a survey was conducted to
ascertain the participants’ perceptions about the utilisation of the OROSS tool and the training
provided.
Conclusion: This article reflects on the pilot phase of a longitudinal study. Results of an
evaluation conducted by the researcher of the OROSS application from a user perspective
(process) are highlighted. In general, users rated OROSS favourably in terms of it being a
useful, simple and easy-to-use web-based tool. The findings of this study may assist University
of Johannesburg’s executive management in deciding the fate of the OROSS tool for future use.