International Open Access Week 2021
Busitema University joined the rest of the World to celebrate the International Open Access Week that started Monday 15th through Friday 19th November 2021. While the official celebrations were in the month of October, and the Open Access Week was Monday 25th through Friday 29th October, Busitema University Library held its events when all the students had reported back to the University and the academic staff were less busy with teaching activities. Due to the Covid-19 assembly restrictions, the week-long celebrations were conducted via Zoom. The theme of the 2021 Open Access Week was “It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Building Structural Equity.” However, given the unique challenges that Busitema faces and to match with the series of activities suggested, our theme was changed to "It Matters How We Open Knowledge: Challenging Established Norms". Every day we held a unique activity as per the programme:
Monday 15th November 2021 we had a virtual session to create awareness for the Open Access Resources. This opening session was officiated by the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Paul Waako who gave opening remarks. Thereafter Mr. Eriya Ntaga, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Librarian, and Mr. Medard Muhumuza, Science and Education Librarian led the students and staff through the different open access resources available for use. The Monday session was moderated by Mr. Isala Abdul Karim, Senior Librarian & Maritime Institute Librarian. The University Librarian Dr. Fredrick Kiwuwa Lugya gave an overview of open access and the programme of the week.
Tuesday 16th November 2021 we talked about impact factor, Predatory Journals & Creative Commons License, as well as Library Support to the user community. This session was led by Ms. Glorias Assimwe, the Health Sciences Librarian, and Mr. Isala Abdul Karim, the Senior Librarian & Maritime Institute Librarian. This session was important for the academic staff to understand why it is important to publish in open access journals, how to avoid publishing in predatory journals and the benefits of protecting one's work through the Creative Commons License. Further, the participants learnt how to use the different library research support systems.
- The Sherpa Site
- Beall's List of Potential Predatory Journals and Publishers
- List of Predatory Journals
- Dalhousie University - Dalhousie Libraries - Research Guide on Open Access & Predatory Journals and Conferences
- Measuring Your Impact: Impact Factor, Citation Analysis, and other Metrics: Journal Impact Factor (IF)
Wednesday 17th November 2021 library users learnt the searching techniques for the Open Access Resources, Statistical Databases, and Datasets. This session was led by Ms. Eva Naggayi, Engineering Librarian, and Ms. Fatuma Famao, the Agriculture and Animal Sciences Librarian.
Thursday 18th November 2021 library users were introduced to Open Access Tools for Research and how to use the Reference Management Applications, specifically Mendeley. This session was led by Dr. Alison Annet Kinengyere, the College Librarian, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, and was assisted by Mr. Wejuli Joseph, Management Sciences Librarian, and Mr. Simati Sam – Librarian II at the Faculty of Engineering Library.
Friday 19th November 2021 had a Panel of Experts' discussion on open access under the topic "It Matters How We Open Knowledge: A Panel discussion on challenging established norms to enable researchers in the developing countries to benefit from open access." Thanks for Joining the Panel to discuss the prospects of increasing access to knowledge for anyone in Busitema and the country at large by challenging established norms. Increasing access to knowledge can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and collaborations. open full programme of the discussion
- Hon. John Mulimba (MP) Minister of State for Foreign Affairs - Regional Affairs
- The Chairperson, Busitema University Council Mrs. Rosemary Mutyabule will give a Key Note Speaker
- Professor Paul Waako
- Dr. Fredrick Kiwuwa Lugya (Ph.D.)
- The session will be moderated by Ms. Iryna Kuchma – eIFL Open Access Programme Manager
- Dr. Fulgensia Kamugisha Mbabazi, Deputy Dean - Faculty of Science and Education
- Assoc. Prof. Eng. Samson Rwahwire, Director Graduate Studies, Research, and Innovations Read Biography
- Dr. Alice Nakiyemba – Dean - Faculty of Natural Resources & Environmental sciences
- Dr. Biira Saphina, Deputy Director Quality Assurance
Download the full Monday programme here
Presentations- University Librarian Dr. Fredrick Kiwuwa Lugya gave an overview of open access
- Learn more about Open Access
- History of Open Access
- Open Access Resources on and for Africa
- Events
- 2022
- 2021
- Open Access Weekly Activities
- Monday 15th/11/2021, Creating Awareness for the Open Access Resources
- Tuesday 16th/11/2021, Learn About Impact Factor, Predatory Journals & Creative Commons License
- Wednesday 17th/11/2021, Search techniques for Open Access Resources
- Thursday 18th/11/2021, Open Access Tools
- Friday 19th/11/2021, Panel of Experts Discussion