GSU Celebrates International Open Access Week 2025

Gwanda State University (GSU) successfully commemorated the 2025 International Open Access Week under the theme “Who Owns Our Knowledge?”. The International Open Access Week is an annual global event that aims to raise awareness and promote the adoption of open access (OA) to research and scholarly outputs. The event was officially opened by the Vice Chancellor, Professor D.Z. Moyo, who underscored that access to knowledge is a right and a cornerstone of innovation, teaching, and research.

Professor Moyo applauded the University Library for leading open access initiatives at GSU, including the development of the Institutional Repository, adoption of an Open Educational Resources (OER) Policy, and creation of a dedicated Open Access Resources platform. These efforts have positioned GSU among the leading institutions in Zimbabwe promoting equitable access to scholarly information.

A key highlight was the Persistent Identifier Workshop, organised by the University Library in collaboration with the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, focusing on ORCID. This global researcher identification system enhances visibility and accurate attribution of scholarly work.

The Library also took advantage of the gathering to introduce newly subscribed electronic resources, EBSCOHost and Britannica Academia, demonstrating how these databases strengthen research and teaching. The workshop concluded successfully, equipping participants with valuable knowledge and practical tools for scholarly communication. The event brought together 40 participants from the Faculty of Engineering; Faculty of Natural Resources Management and Agriculture; the Research, Innovation and Industrialisation Directorate as well as the Centre for Wildlife Conservation and Research.

The GSU Library reaffirmed its commitment to supporting academics and researchers in navigating the evolving landscape of open science and digital scholarship.