Africa University Network is a network the collaboration of East African-based Digital Innovation and Skills Hub (DISH), Virus Outbreak Data Network Africa (VODAN-A), research programs on social transformation, and the Globalization, Accessibility, Innovation and Care (GAIC) Network
Data is the new gold and the oil of the new economy. Africa must fully benefit from the data it produces. The Africa University Network on FAIR Open Science has been established to facilitate a science to support Africa-based knowledge, economies and development based on its own heritage. The network is proud that it is comprised of public and private university programmes across the entire continent, from Tunisia to South Africa and from Zimbabwe to Somalia. All are welcome to join. The network appreciates the value that all universities bring, especially the regional and localised universities, rooted in communities. Collaboration is a win-win. The network presents an opportunity to work with university networks across the globe. The point of collaboration is: data is local, ownership of data is local, and knowledge is local. By creating interoperability between locally owned data, we can increase collaboration, and retain the value in Africa.
The African University Network on FAIR Open Science has three major programmes:
- The Digital Innovation and Skills Hub (DISH) provides opportunities for all students, including those that dropped out, to learn skills, discover talents and contribute.
- The Virus Outbreak Data Network Africa (VODAN-Africa) presents an African Approach to make data locally owned and yet interoperable. This has incredible potential in the science sector, health, climate, and industry. VODAN-Africa presented the first operational cross-border collaboration of health data stored locally and analysed across nine countries. It is ahead of global developments and showing the way for the digital future.
- The Globalisation, Accessibility, Innovation and Care (GAIC) Research programme serves as an example of science collaboration across the continent and with other geographies. The programme trains specialised academics, with interdisciplinary backgrounds through its dedicated PhD programmes.
The African University Network on FAIR Open Science embraces global standards on FAIR Open Science and contributes to it. As an African network, it works with African organisations to promote African science and collaboration with international partners in the European Union and elsewhere.
Collaborating Countries
Tunisia, Liberia, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa
Chair
Prof Mpezamihigo,
VC, Kampala International University