Wits Libraries empower East African universities

11 September 2025 - Wits University

The inter-continental collaboration seeks to strengthen research data management, ensuring that African scholarship is visible and globally connected.

Wits University Libraries has joined forces with Hasselt University (Belgium) and the University of South Africa (UNISA) to help build Research Data Management (RDM) capacity at 13 higher education institutions (HEIs) in Tanzania and Uganda. The initiative, known as KWANZA-RDM, is funded by VLIR-UOS and aims to accelerate open and responsible science in the region.

The first training workshop took place at Wits University with 20 participants from East Africa engaging in interactive sessions with the Open Scholarship and Research Visibility team, Library ICT, and Cataloguing sections.

“The visit showcased how libraries can drive open scholarship and support research visibility,” said Dr Daisy Selematsela, Wits University Librarian, who co-leads the project with Lazarus Matizirofa, Associate Director: Research Scholarly Communication, Digital Systems & Services. They were joined by Prof. Patrick Ngulube of UNISA and colleagues from Hasselt University.

Why RDM matters

Research Data Management is the backbone of modern scholarship. It ensures that research data is organised, preserved, and shared responsibly, in line with global best practices and the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Strong RDM frameworks improve the credibility and transparency of research outputs, reduce duplication, and foster collaboration across disciplines and borders. Open and well-curated data also provides vital evidence for shaping public policy. Research Data Management (RDM) is critically important to universities and researchers, especially when viewed as a public good.

Building capacity for open science

The KWANZA-RDM project forms part of the VLIR-UOS Accelerate Programme, which focuses on strengthening Open Education and Open Science across Africa. Through training, policy development, and community-building, the project supports HEIs in Tanzania and Uganda to adopt sustainable RDM practices.

Participating universities are now working towards establishing policies, developing expertise, and creating communities of practice that will advance digital inclusion, open science, and sustainable growth in the region.