Whiles the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal4 seeks to promote “Quality Education”, the effort is faced with a lot of challenges including access to quality information for teaching, learning and research in the global south and low-middle-income countries. One of the efforts being made to improve the situation is the Research4Life Project led by the WHO and partner agencies. The project “provides institutions in low-and middle-income countries with online access to academic and professional peer-reviewed content”, The project aims to “improve teaching, research and policymaking in health, agriculture, the environment and other life, physical and social sciences”( About Research4Life).
In an enlightening episode of the “Let’s Go to the Library” programme on Radio Univers 105.7 FM, Mr. Eric A. Amoaful, the librarian of Academic City University and the Reaerch4Life Country Connector/Representative for the Ghana Library Association shared some insights on the vital role of access to research resources for global equity in knowledge. He shed light on the importance of inclusivity in research communication, especially regarding the resource availability to researchers from low-middle-income countries. As a Research4Life Connector, Mr. Amoaful serves as one of the key advocates for improving research accessibility in Ghana and beyond.
The Need for Inclusivity in Research
Mr. Amoaful emphasized that research is not just an academic exercise; it is a vital part of the global development effort. He noted that to address pressing global issues effectively, it’s crucial to include diverse perspectives, particularly from the Global South. “If there’s a global issue to be researched, we need sources that reflect the realities of low-middle-income countries,” he stated. He indicated that, though in business to make money, publishers and book industry players recognize this necessity which is why they’re committed to making some of their resources available for free or at a low cost.
Mr. Amoaful urged local publishers to get their journals listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) to increase their accessibility and inclusion in global research. He hinted that this will enable reseach4Life to include the journals on its platform to increase their global access. He noted further that “no matter how robust the research design used in global research, without the inclusion of content from the global south and low-middle-income countries, the research output will be skewed towards the advance and resource available countries.
Addressing Access Challenges
This commitment by Research4Life to make the resources available for free or at low cost, comes with a caveat. Mr. Amoaful explains that for purposes of access monitoring, Research4Life demands that institutions must be registered to access the resource. Discussing how private/individual researchers can benefit from the resource, he urged especially private researchers to affiliate themselves with registered academic/research institutions to gain access to the valuable resources. “Libraries, per their mandate are allowed to serve guest users, find an institution that can support you. Visit their library and explore how they can help you access these resources.”
He encouraged researchers to convince their leadership to apply for access to Research4Life to increase their access to quality content to support their work.
Challenges Faced by Research4Life
Mr. Amoaful highlighted several challenges faced by Research4Life, primarily focusing on advocacy and awareness. “Advocacy is crucial. Many institutions and individuals may not be aware of the resources available to them. That’s why the Ghana Library Association signed an agreement to promote these resources, particularly for colleges and emerging academic institutions that struggle to raise the necessary funds for subscriptions to quality teaching and learning resources.”
He underscored the importance of awareness campaigns to ensure researchers know about the availability and how to access these valuable resources. He noted that it is vital for individuals, whether they’re alumni or current students, to understand that access to these products comes through verifiable institutions. This ensures that the publishers recognize the legitimacy of the requests for free access, supporting a global equity and growth in research communication.
Promoting Local Partnerships
Mr. Amoaful urged librarians, faculty members, and local publishers to collaborate in promoting the Research4Life resources. He indicated that local publishers should ensure that their journals are available on the Research4Life platform by enlisting them in open access directories and databases. By doing so, they enhance the visibility of their content on a global scale, ensuring that research outputs from the Global South reach a wider audience.
Mr. Amoaful’s insights points to the critical role of inclusivity and advocacy in research communication. By promoting awareness and building partnerships, the academic and research community can work towards ensuring that research knowledge from their institutions are accessible to all, to ensure access and inclusion of content from the global south and low-middle-income countries in global research. This will foster global collaboration and innovation in addressing the world’s challenges holistically
Left; Mr E. Amoaful , Right ; Imran Khan Abdulai
Full interview on https://univers.ug.edu.gh/
Story by; Imran Khan Abdulai ( Host , Lets Go To the Library Show).
