6 January 2010 | EN | FR Improving ICTs is critical to create an
environment for open access Kenyan researcher Joseph Juma
Musakali asks what African research institutes can do to exploit
the open access movement. 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