OSCAR 2.0 - Towards Open Science Communities development in Sub-Saharan Africa Region
Project summery
OSCAR 2.0 addresses the EU-Africa Strategy (2020) and African Union’s strategic objectives by supporting digital transformation, sustainable growth, and innovation in Zambia and Botswana.
The project aims to foster effective digital transformation of education and science by promoting Open Science (OS) principles at institutional and national levels.
Through improved digital infrastructures, the development of OS policies, and stronger human capacities, OSCAR 2.0 enhances the role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as drivers of democratic, inclusive, and equitable development.
The initiative builds upon the FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and supports institutional reforms to strengthen higher education governance, research transparency, and cooperation with civil society.
In this way, OSCAR 2.0 contributes to regional economic integration, social inclusiveness, and digital resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Specific objectives
Promote OS culture and build national and institutional consensus among stakeholders in Zambia and Botswana by Month 36.
Strengthen human capacities by integrating OS courses into Master/PhD curricula, designing six training modules, and developing lifelong learning programmes by Month 21.
Advance OS infrastructure in each Partner Country HEI (PCHEI) by establishing interoperable repositories, Science Shops 2.0, and university OS portals meeting FAIR standards by Month 21.
Embed OS into university policies and advance national OS regulatory frameworks, adopting strategies, open access policies, and monitoring mechanisms to ensure transparency and competitiveness by Month 36.
Project Results
Project Management Handbook: Comprehensive guide defining the project’s governance, procedures, and coordination mechanisms.
Project Brand Book: Official identity package establishing project’s visual guidelines and communication tools.
Operational Plan: Detailed plan coordinating project activities, timelines, and partner responsibilities.
Monitoring & Evaluation Manual: Manual outlining indicators, tools, and procedures for systematic performance assessment.
Open Science Country Profiles: Comprehensive national profiles analysing Open Science policies, practices, and capacities.
Open Science Infrastructure Development Plan: Strategic plan for developing interoperable, FAIR-aligned Open Science infrastructure in partner HEIs.
Open Science Formal and Informal Curriculum: Curriculum integrating Open Science principles into formal programmes and lifelong learning courses.
University Open Science Policies: Institutional policy frameworks advancing Open Science governance and regulatory standards.
Science Shop 2.0 Handbook: Handbook providing guidelines for establishing and operating inclusive Science Shops 2.0.
Dissemination and Exploitation Strategy: Strategy defining methods to communicate, disseminate, and exploit project results.
Sustainability and Impact Maximisation Report: Final report analysing long-term sustainability and maximisation of project impact.