[Open Access News] OA for Africa

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Gavin Baker

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Jan 13, 2010, 2:07:37 PM1/13/10

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Joseph Juma Musakali, Bridging the digital divide through open access, SciDev.Net, January 6, 2010.

Publishing scientific findings and accessing the research of others is an essential part of the academic process, particularly to encourage debate and foster innovation.

But many research institutions in Africa cannot afford to subscribe to many scientific journals, making it hard for scientists to keep up with research. Some institutions cannot even afford to promote and share the results of their research. Only a few people see their results and much of the research findings on the continent are going unnoticed.

The open access movement removes barriers to academic literature and offers opportunities to participate in the wider research and teaching community, ensuring that Africa does not end up on the wrong side of the 'digital divide'.

African higher education institutions can make use of open access in several ways — but they must also address the vital, underpinning role of information and communications technology (ICT). ...