Now some publishing companies (i.e. Springer) offer a choice of open-access to the authors but they will charge hefty publication fees (i.e. $3,000 per paper). Ridiculous.

Another problem is none of our Universities will quickly consider open-access journals because most vice chancellors may not have enough 'knowledge' and 'experience' about this form of publication.

From Springer's Website

"Customers providing payment from the Americas will be charged in US$; customers providing payment from Europe, Africa, and Asia will be charged in EUR. VAT is not included in the price and will be added, at a standard rate, for customers who receive invoices in Euros.
The open access publication fee does not replace any existing journal policies publication costs to be paid by the author, which are billed separately (e.g. surcharges for color in print, oversized articles, etc.)."

I will never understand those are willing to pay for this.

The danger of open-access journal is its quality. My university will never accept it because most open-access journals do not have a proper quality control system, unlike traditional journals.

Professor Pimpa, you argument is timely! I am disgusted by the power of the international publishing houses. They can't control the flow of knowledge when the cost of production is as low as 30 cents per one copy of journal. Open-access is the way to go for all academics.

Thank You.