AFRO-NETS> Africa to get online research database

[Dieter Neuvians MD <neuvians@mweb.co.za>]

Africa to get online research database
--------------------------------------
 
Deodatus Balile
23 October 2003
Source: SciDev.Net http://www.scidev.net/
 
 
[DAR ES SALAAM] A new African initiative is to be launched to 
make dissertations and theses by researchers and students across 
the continent available online. The move is a bid to increase 
the worldwide profile and accessibility of research by African 
scholars.
 
The initiative, known as the Database for African Theses and 
Dissertation (DATAD), will be launched in January by the Asso-
ciation of African Universities (AAU). Preliminary development 
work is already being carried out.
 
"It makes no sense for each researcher in Africa to keep his own 
research, or for research to be kept in our [local] library," 
says Lettice Rutashobya, director for postgraduate studies at 
the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
 
"An online database will help research to be accessed and read 
all over the world. Currently what is done by a researcher in 
Nigeria is not even known about in Tanzania. An online database 
is likely to solve such problems." 
 
The database will act as a quality-control tool for research 
conducted in Africa, as its content will be monitored by other 
researchers, and it will also allow gaps in research to be 
identified, as well as duplication to be avoided.
 
Rutashobya adds that sharing knowledge will speed up the process 
of learning in Africa, and could help secure funding from do-
nors.
 
DATAD will initially include electronic versions of research 
carried out since 1990. A second phase will see the addition of 
research from 1980 to 1990, and in the third phase research con-
ducted before then will be added. 
 
Rutashobya says that the project ­ which is funded by interna-
tional donors through the AAU ­ is already employing staff to 
prepare electronic versions of theses and dissertations that are 
currently only available in hard copy. 
 
Matthew Luhanga, vice chancellor at the University of Dar es Sa-
laam, says that about 2,000 abstracts of theses and disserta-
tions from the university are already online. However access to 
these by other researchers is currently awaiting adoption of a 
legal framework to protect the work from piracy.
 
Related links: 
Association of African Universities:
http://www.aau.org/
 
Database for African Theses and Dissertations:
http://www.aau.org/datad/

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