Aquinata Amulabu and Meshack Ngangi
Tuesday, October 22, 2024, marked the opening ceremony of International Open Access Week 2024 at The Co-operative University of Kenya, with an engaging and insightful session at the Learning Resource Centre. This global event, observed by the University, promotes free and immediate online access to research and is geared towards bringing together students, staff, and faculty members under the theme “Community over Commercialization.”
Prof. Isaac Nyamongo highlighted the transformational power of ensuring competent knowledge management and free information access in turning around education and research.
“The University is committed to ensuring that our knowledge management systems allow for open and convenient accessibility of information for an industry-responsive education, data-driven research, and an empowered community,” Prof. Nyamongo affirmed.
In his clerical call, Prof. Nyamongo urged the University community, students, and staff to fully utilize the available resources and participate actively in research initiatives.
Afterward, Miriam Ndung’u, the University Librarian, led the presentations, emphasizing the importance of open access to academic resources. She highlighted how open access democratizes knowledge by providing seamless access to scholarly materials that enrich learning and research activities for students, staff, and faculty.
At the close of the session, Kelvin Kimathi, the Systems Librarian, provided an in-depth overview of how CUK’s digital information access infrastructure enhances open access. He elaborated on ongoing efforts to improve digital information and academic repository platforms, such as MY LOFT, that have encouraged the University’s innovation and supported research excellence.
