Unlocking Knowledge, Embracing Open Science: Empowering Minds, Transforming the Future (UET)
Funding Area: Capacity building / Construcción de capacidad
Problem Statement: The lack of awareness and understanding of open science principles among researchers, students, and research administrators in Kenya has resulted in limited adoption of open research practices, such as openly sharing research data and publishing in open-access journals. Additionally, there is limited knowledge of available open research infrastructure services, hindering researchers' ability to fully utilize open science resources. Insufficient capacity for implementing open science practices further complicates the situation. To address these challenges, this Open Science Training and Awareness Program aims to foster collaboration with universities and research organizations, creating a sustainable network of support for open science initiatives. Through targeted training and awareness-raising efforts, the program seeks to promote transparency, collaboration, and accessibility of research outputs, ultimately improving the quality and impact of research in the country.
Proposed Activities: 1. Conduct Needs Assessment. Assess the current level of awareness and understanding of open science principles among researchers, students, and research administrators in Kenya Identify specific areas of improvement. Resources: Survey and data collection tools. Research assistants. Analytical software for data processing. Timelines: 2 months. Skills: Research design and survey development. Data collection and analysis. Report writing and data interpretation. 2. Develop Training Materials. Create comprehensive and accessible educational materials that cater to the diverse needs of participants covering open science principles, including open data, open access, and open peer review. Resources: Subject matter experts in open science. Design software and tools for content creation. Review and feedback mechanisms from stakeholders. Timelines: 3 months. Skills: Expertise in open science principles and practices. Content creation and instructional design. 3. Organize Workshops and Webinars. Conduct workshops and webinars to raise awareness about open science principles among researchers, students, and research administrators. Provide hands-on training and practical guidance on implementing open research practices. Resources: Trainers and facilitators with expertise in open science. Venue for in-person workshops. Online platforms for webinars. Training materials. Timelines: Preparation and logistics: 1 month for each event. Workshop and webinar scheduling: 5months. Skills: Training and workshop facilitation. Event planning and coordination. 4. Create an Online Training Platform. Establish an online platform that hosts training resources, webinars, and interactive modules on open science principles. Ensure accessibility and continuous availability of the training materials for all participants. Resources: Web development and design expertise. Online learning management system. Hosting and maintenance resources for the platform. Timelines: 4 months. Skills: Web development and design. Content organization and management on the platform. 5 Collaborate with Universities and Research Organizations Form partnerships with universities and research organizations in Kenya to create a sustainable network of support for open science initiatives. Resources: Networking and partnership. collaboration agreements. Shared resources and expertise from partner institutions. Timelines: 2months. Skills: Relationship building and networking. Contract negotiation and agreement drafting. 5. Monitor and evaluate. Continuously monitor the program's impact and effectiveness in promoting open research practices. Gather feedback from participants to identify areas for improvement and ensure program success. Resources: Data collection and evaluation tools. Monitoring and evaluation team. Feedback mechanisms for participants. Timelines: Ongoing throughout the program duration. Skills: Data collection and analysis. Program assessment and improvement planning.
Openness: Training materials, presentations, guides, and video tutorials will be openly accessible on an online platform, allowing researchers, students, and administrators from different institutions to access these resources without restrictions. To foster collaboration and interoperability, the program aims to encourage joint technical development among open infrastructure teams. By standardizing interfaces, seamless collaboration and resource-sharing across various open infrastructure services will be facilitated. The workshops, webinars, and events organized under the program will be open to a broader community, ensuring participation and benefits for researchers, students, and administrators from diverse backgrounds and locations in Kenya. The project's outputs, including training materials, educational resources, and research findings, will be openly shared with the academic and research community in Kenya and beyond through open repositories and access platforms. The program's partnerships with universities and research organizations will foster open collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sharing of best practices to advance open science principles and practices. The project aims to foster a culture of transparency, knowledge sharing, and openness, ultimately strengthening the adoption of open research practices and open infrastructure within the academic and research community.
Challenges: Awareness and Resistance: Sensitizing researchers, students, and administrators about the benefits of openness may require dedicated efforts to address misconceptions or concerns related to data sharing and intellectual property. Limited Resources: Securing adequate funding and resources to support the program's activities, including organizing workshops and developing an online platform, may be a challenge. The program's sustainability will depend on securing ongoing support. Technical Expertise: Collaborating with different teams to align technical specifications may present challenges in coordinating efforts. Institutional Buy-In: Gaining buy-in from universities and research organizations to integrate open science training into their existing programs may be challenging. Some institutions may require convincing about the long-term benefits and the value of investing in open research practices. Monitoring and Evaluation: Effectively monitoring the impact of the program and evaluating the success of the training initiatives may be complex. Measuring changes in behavior and practices resulting from the workshops and webinars requires careful planning and data collection. Sustaining Engagement: Encouraging ongoing engagement from the broader community beyond the initial workshops and events is essential. Keeping participants motivated and interested in open science practices in the long term may be challenging.
Neglectedness: There are various organizations and funding agencies that support open science initiatives and research infrastructure development. I have previously been funded to attend training and seminars on research and development by my institution and other research foundations. I have also been funded for training on project development workshop by collaboration for entrepreneurial Universities (CEPU)
Success: Increased Awareness and Adoption: Measuring the level of increased awareness and adoption of open science practices among researchers, students, and administrators in Kenya through surveys and assessments before and after the training. Feedback and Participant Satisfaction: Gathering feedback from workshop participants, webinar attendees, and platform users to assess the program's impact and effectiveness, with high satisfaction and positive feedback indicating success. Usage of Open Infrastructure Services: Monitoring engagement metrics of open infrastructure services during and after the training to demonstrate successful utilization by researchers. Interoperability and Collaboration: Successful implementation of joint development initiatives and enhanced interoperability between open infrastructure services, indicating successful collaboration among teams. Sustainability and Long-Term Engagement: Sustained engagement of participants in open science practices beyond the training period, indicating a successful culture of openness. Partnerships and Community Building: Number of collaborations established and strengthened partnerships with universities, research organizations, and stakeholders, indicating successful community building. Quantitative Metrics: Tracking metrics like workshop attendees, webinar participants, online platform users, and training material downloads to assess program reach and impact.
Total Budget: 24,170 USD
Budget File: pdf
Affiliations: Yes.1. Kenya National library Service. 2. Kenya Education Network(KENET). 3.Internet society of Kenya.4 Mount Kenya University
LMIE Carveout: Yes, the Open Science Training and Awareness Program fits within the category of projects for Low- and Middle-Income Economies (LMIEs). The project will be conducted in Kenya, with locations in Kiambu County and Nairobi County. It will target participants from universities and communities across the entire country. Kenya is classified as a Low-Middle Income Economy, making the project eligible for the 60% reserved funds. By focusing on raising awareness and promoting open science practices in Kenya, the program aims to empower researchers, students, and research administrators within the LMIE context, contributing to the advancement of open research and knowledge sharing in the country.
Team Skills: Expertise in Open Science and Research Infrastructure: members possess in-depth knowledge of open science principles, open research infrastructure, and data sharing practices. Their expertise will be vital in designing relevant and impactful training materials and workshops. Instructional Design and Training Facilitation: Professionals with experience in instructional design and training facilitation will be crucial in developing engaging and effective training materials and conducting interactive workshops and webinars. Project Coordination and Management: A dedicated project coordinator is essential for overseeing the program's implementation, coordinating activities, and ensuring effective communication among team members and stakeholders including workshops, meeting and webinars arrangements and coordination. Technical Experts and Developers: Technical experts and developers are necessary for building and maintaining the online training platform and facilitating interoperability efforts among open infrastructure services. Community Engagement and Partnerships: Team members with experience in community engagement and partnerships will be vital for building relationships with universities, research organizations, and stakeholders to promote collaboration and sustainability. Research and Evaluation: Experts in research and evaluation will play a critical role in designing data collection methods, conducting impact assessments, and measuring the program's success.
Submission Number: 97
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