Ms Joy Owango on Forming Strategic Partnerships for Open Science Policy in Africa скачать в хорошем качестве

Ms Joy Owango on Forming Strategic Partnerships for Open Science Policy in Africa

Ms Joy Owango presented a topic on forging strategic partnerships on open science policy in Africa during a stakeholder engagement session on the development of higher education in Africa, at the Association of African Universities (AAU) conference hosted by the University of Namibia in July 2023 under the theme: 'Advancing Excellence in African Higher Education.' Ms Joy Owango, Executive Director of the Training Centre in Communication (TCC Africa), advocates for strategic partnerships as the primary driver for mainstreaming Open Science across Africa. Her approach focuses on building "knowledge sovereignty" through collaborative, African-led ecosystems rather than just adopting external tools. Core Principles for Strategic Partnerships • Knowledge Sovereignty & Infrastructure: Owango emphasises that Africa must build its own infrastructure, such as the Africa PID Alliance, to ensure research data remains on the continent and indigenous knowledge is preserved. • Systemic Alignment: She argues that Open Science requires a "systemic" approach where universities, funders, and governments align their policies to support transparency and visibility in knowledge production. • Leadership and Local Context: Partnerships must be grounded in African leadership to ensure that Open Science frameworks reflect the continent's specific cultural and socio-economic needs. Key Recent Initiatives (2024–2025) • East African Regional Policy (2024): Owango led a landmark partnership between TCC Africa, the Public Library of Science (PLOS), and the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO). This collaboration successfully integrated Open Science principles into the regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy for the East African Community (EAC), setting a precedent for the continent. • Continental Advocacy (2025): Throughout 2025, she has highlighted the "Advancing Open Science Program," which involves collaborations with the Association of African Universities (AAU) and PLOS to build sustainable research capacity and visibility. • International Engagement: In late 2025, Owango delivered keynotes at global forums like NORFest 2025 in Ireland, presenting Africa's progress in building equitable knowledge ecosystems through long-term regional collaborations. Active Strategic Partners • PLOS (Public Library of Science): A long-term partner in providing training and education for Open Science adoption across African member states. • Association of African Universities (AAU): Collaboration focuses on regional workshops to build capacity for university leaders and researchers. • Digital Science: Working together to index African higher education content in global databases like Dimensions to increase research visibility. • Regional Commissions: Partnering with bodies like EASTECO and ASREN (Arab States Research and Education Network) to scale policy dialogues into North and East Africa.