Project Overview
The OSCAR 2.0 Project (Open Science Collaboration and Research in Higher Education in Sub‑Saharan Africa) is a multi‑stakeholder initiative aimed at strengthening collaboration, knowledge sharing, and research innovation among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
Funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ Programme (Key Action 2: Capacity Building for Higher Education), the project (Ref. No. 101129127) seeks to foster the effective digital transformation of education and science through the development of digital infrastructure, enhanced institutional cooperation, and the promotion of Open Science (OS) principles and values.
OSCAR 2.0 focuses on enabling HEIs to adopt sustainable Open Science practices that improve research visibility, accessibility, transparency, and societal impact. The long‑term impact of the project will be sustained through the establishment of an integrated Open Science environment and a comprehensive research operational framework within participating institutions.
Project Objectives
The project is guided by the following specific objectives:
- SO1: Promote Open Science culture and build national and university‑level consensus among key stakeholders in each Partner Country (PC) by Month 36.
- SO2: Enhance the transition of universities towards sustainable Open Science practices in each PC by Month 21.
- SO3: Advance university Open Science infrastructure in each PC by Month 21.
- SO4: Embed Open Science in university policies and strengthen national regulatory frameworks in each PC by Month 36.
Expected Outcomes and Deliverables
As a capacity‑building project designed to strengthen Open Science communities in Sub‑Saharan Africa, OSCAR 2.0 will deliver the following key outputs:
- Open Science Country Profiles
- Open Science Infrastructure Development Plans
- Formal and Informal Open Science Curriculum
- Institutional Open Science Policies
- Science Shop 2.0 Handbook
In addition, the project will support the establishment of:
- Open Science platforms
- Science Shops / Open Science Hubs
- Trained researchers and early‑career scholars with Open Science competencies
- Institutional standards and guidelines for Open Science implementation
Consortium Partners
The OSCAR 2.0 consortium brings together leading academic, research, and policy institutions from Europe and Africa:
Zambia
- University of Zambia
- University of Barotseland
Botswana
- University of Botswana
- Botho University
- Joseph Mwelwa Consult
- Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI)
Europe
- International School for Business and Social Studies – Slovenia
- European Policy Development and Research Institute – Slovenia
- Deggendorf Institute of Technology – Germany
- Stichting VU – Netherlands
Project Duration
The project runs for three years (2024–2026).
OSCAR 2.0 at the University of Botswana
At the University of Botswana (UB), the OSCAR 2.0 Project is hosted under the Office of the Deputy Vice‑Chancellor for Research and Enterprise (DVCRE).
The project is led by the Department of Computer Science, under the leadership of Dr Audrey Masizana, who serves as the Project Leader.
To ensure successful implementation and delivery of project objectives, the Department of Computer Science collaborates closely with the following units:
- University Library
- Centre for Academic Development (CAD)
- Department of Information Technology (IT)
- Office of Research and Development (ORD)
These stakeholders jointly support the development of Open Science infrastructure, curriculum integration, policy formulation, and community engagement activities at institutional and national levels.
Vision and Impact
Through OSCAR 2.0, participating institutions aim to:
- Strengthen regional and international research collaboration
- Improve access to scientific knowledge and research outputs
- Build institutional capacity for digital research infrastructure
- Promote transparency, reproducibility, and innovation in research
- Enhance the societal relevance and impact of academic research
The project contributes directly to the modernization of higher education systems in Sub‑Saharan Africa and supports the global transition toward open, inclusive, and sustainable science ecosystems.