Analysis of information consumption and the impact of the UTP institutional repository on the dissemination of academic knowledge

Today’s universities are undergoing constant change, driven by the knowledge society and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which facilitate access to information. In this context, open access has become an essential tool for scientific dissemination, enabling the preservation and visibility of academic output through institutional repositories (IR). The study focuses on RIDDA2, the institutional repository of the Technological University of Panama (UTP), which houses 3,491 documents. However, the survey revealed that only $50 \%$ of respondents were aware of the repository’s existence, and of these, only $31 \%$ had uploaded documents. Although repositories are less utilized compared to other information sources like academic social networks, those who use them find valuable materials. The importance of institutional repositories for academic visibility is highlighted, but there is also a need to increase their promotion within the university community to enhance both their usage and the volume of content deposited. This boost is crucial for strengthening the visibility and impact of the university’s scientific output..