Oscar 2.0 Research Initiative

Botho University, proud part of Oscar 2.0 research initiative, funded by European Union

OSCAR 2.0 project (ref. nr. 101129127) funded by ERASMUS + (Key Action 2: Capacity Building for Higher Education), a European funding programme aims to foster the effective digital transformation of education and science to develop digital infrastructure and connections, by boosting the engagement of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in implementation of Open Science principles and values. The project`s impact will be sustained through a developed integrative Open Science (OS) environment and research operational framework. As a capacity-building project aimed to develop OS communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, the project’s intended outcomes consist of developing OS infrastructure (i.e. OS platforms, Science Shops/ OS hubs), human capital (i.e. methodology, competence and knowledge-trained researchers, including the early stage researchers), efficient institutional OS policies and standards for OS.

OSCAR 2.0 consortium consists of leading institutions from Europe and Africa. Participants are University of Zambia, The University of Barotseland (Zambia), Botho University (Botswana), University of Botswana, Joseph Mwelwa Consult (Botswana), BITRI (Botswana), International School for Business and Social Studies (Slovenia), European Policy Development and Research Institute (Slovenia), Deggendorf Institute of Technology (Germany) and Stichting VU (Netherlands). The project is spanning over 3 years from 2024-2026.

Dr Ivy Rose Mathew, Pro Vice Chancellor for Academics, Dr Robert Machera, Dean for the Faculty of Business and Accounting and Ms Kelemwok Kassahun, Senior Team Leader of the Library, Teaching and Research Excellence Department travelled to Amsterdam, Netherlands as part of the OSCAR 2.0 Open Science initiative funded by the European Commission, representing Botho University.

Dr Ivy Rose Mathew, speaks of her experience on the recent trip to the Netherlands. She says “ It was an incredible opportunity to gain insights into innovative practices from Europe, Asia, and Africa on Open Science, Service Learning, Science Shops, Knowledge Equity, and many more. Special mention to the Vrije University (VU) library team for sharing their efforts to promote open science practices at VU. We also attended the Science with Society Festival, where we had the opportunity to listen to student projects and community support in solving complex societal issues. The Knowledge Equity Symposium was another highlight, where we learned about the Knowledge Equity Network.”

She further adds that “Botho University is proud to be a part of the OSCAR 2.0 project and looks forward to implementing the valuable insights gained and exploring new opportunities for growth and innovation.”

[Setswana Version]

Tiro ya OSCAR 2.0 (REF. 101129127) ee e ntsheditsweng madi ke ERASMUS + (Tiro Kgolo 2: Kgodiso ya Dithuto tse Dikgolo), e rotloediwang ke lenaneo la Europe la madi, e itebagantse le tlhabololo le kgodisa ya dithuto tsa maranyane go tlhabolola kgokelo le mafaratlhatlha a thaeletsano ka go itshwaraganya le dikole tsa thutelo ditiro go dirafatsa maikaelelo le boleng jwa maranyane. Maduo a tirelo e, a tlaa tshegeditswe ka tlhabolola maikaelelo a Open Science, (ee itibagantseng le go arogana maranyane le botlhe) mo tikologong le go dira ditshekatsheko.

Jaaka tirelo ee itebagantseng le go tlhabolola merafe ee ka fa tlase ga OS mo Sub-Saharan Africa, maikaelelo ke go aga mafaratlhatlha a OS (jaaka didirisiwa tsa OS tsa maranyane, mabenkele a maranyane kana disigo tsa OS), bodiredi (jaaka metlhale, basekaseki ba ba nang le bokgoni le kitso go akarediwa le dialogane tsa ditshekatsheko), melawana le dikale tsa OS tse di mosola mo madirelong.

OSCAR 2.0 e na le maloko a a akaretsang makala a a tlhwatlhwa go tswa Europe le Africa. Batsaakarolo ke University of Zambia, The University of Barotseland (Zambia), Botho University (Botswana), University of Botswana, Joseph Mwelwa Consult (Botswana), BITRI (Botswana), International School for Business and Social Studies (Slovenia), European Policy Development and Research Institute (Slovenia), Deggendorf Institute of Technology (Germany) and Stichting VU (Netherlands). Tirelo e e tlaa tsaya dingwaga tse tharo go simolola ka 2024 go fitlha ka 2026. Ngaka Ivy Mathew, Mothusa- Mogokgo wa tsa thuto, Ngaka Robert Machera, Moiteledipele wa lephata la thuto ya tsa Kgwebo le Dipalopalo le Mme Kelemwok Kassahun, Mogolwane mo Lephateng la motlobo wa dibuka, go ruta le ditshekatsheko ba ne baya Amsterdam kwa Netherlands ba emetse Botho University e le bontlha bongwe jwa OSCAR 2.0 OS ka thotoetso ya madi ke lekgotla la European Commission.

E rile a arogana maitemogelo a gagwe ka mosepele wa Netherlands, Ngaka Ivy Rose Mathew, are, “E ne e le sebaka se se haphegileng go nna le maitemogelo mo go tsa botlhami go tswa Europe, Asia le Africa tebang le OS, thuto ka bodiredi, mabenkele a maranyane, kitso ka tekatekanyo jalo, jalo. A nankola mo go haphigileng setlhopha se senneng se emetse motlobo wa dibuka sa Vrije University, (VU) ka go arogana maiteko a bone a go totomatsa ditirelo tsa OS kwa VU. Re ne gape ra tsenelela moletlo wa Science with Society, kwa re nnileng le sebaka sa go bogela ditirelo tsa bana le kafa setshaba se thusang ka teng go rarabolola dikgwetlho tsa selegae. E nngwe tiro ya tse di neng di gapa leitlho e ne e le Knowledge Equity Symposium kwa re ithutileng teng ka maranyane a tekatekano ya dikitso.” O tsweletse a tlatsa ka gore, “Botho University e ipela ka go nna bontlhabongwe jwa tirelo ya OSCAR 2.0 mme re leba kwa pele go dirafatsa malebela a re a ithutileng le go senka sebaka sa kgolo le tlhamo ya maemo aa kwa godimo.”