Initial work and Advocacy Plan
Objectives
Firstly, the research project aims critically analyzing public interests in the copyright system vis-à-vis access to e-resources in selected Ugandan university and research institutions. Secondly the study tackles the question of knowledge representation in relation to copyright protection to deconstruct the notion of Africa as a knowledge consumer and not producer. This study is grounded in the intellectual tradition advocating for bringing back the public good in the contemporary copyright discourse.
Partners (possible) in OSI Network
i) OSI Information Program
The research project intersects with four broad areas under OSI's Information Program: open access/content, Internet and Information Policy, Electronic Information for Libraries (eIFL) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). All the above aim at promoting open and democratic access to information in developing countries and specifically encouraging civic participation in access to knowledge advocacy. The first Fellowship activity was attending the 2006 Conference on Access to Knowledge at the Yale Law School sponsored by the OSI Information Program.
As the National Copyright Expert for Uganda for eIFL, I am indirectly involved in Electronic Information for Libraries of the OSI Information Program. Several Fellowship activities will be conducted with the support of key actors in Electronic Information for Libraries Initiatives such as eIFL and the Consortium of Ugandan University Libraries (CUUL). I will look out for more areas of cooperation with the Information Program, particularly scholarly activities such as seminars, conferences, workshops, etc.
Other possible programs of interest where I have potential for collaboration due to geographical location or subject matter include:
ii) East Africa Initiative (OSIEA)
- information aspect of the programiii) AfriMap - information aspect of the program
iv) International Higher Education Support Program - my fellowship research project is remotely related to higher education reform in as far as African institutions of higher learning are called upon to play actively engage in national and international policy dialogs and spaces (copyright in case of this Fellowship).
Timeline/activity schedule
A - Research
1. IPF training Budapest-Hungary - April
2. Literature Review - May/June
Focus areas:
- Analyze institutional policies on copyright e-resource usage, and enabling ICTs
- Theoretical area (critical/last incident technique)
- Study designs (user behavior/library user studies)
- Copyright, access to knowledge and representation with bias to Africa's higher education contexts
- African Universities (libraries) in public policy arena
- National copyright policies, laws (including case law)
- International & regional copyright instruments and institutional infrastructures
- Review of the South African policies on access to knowledge and representation.
3. Develop Study Design and methodology - May/June
4. Establish formal contacts with stakeholders in and out of Uganda - June
- Select 3 institutions with aid of CUUL
- Contact relevant organizations (eIFL, INASP, AAU )
- Policy makers, relevant government dept. & legislators
- Consult with research team at University of Dar Es Salaam
- Seek study clearance - UNCST & participating institutions
5. Fieldwork - July/Aug
- Conduct initial FGD(s) with select groups of digital librarians, university librarians, e-resource coordinators and other relevant authorities)
- Refinement of study design and methodology based on initial FGD findings and literature review
- Develop study tools (FGD guides) for lecturers, students and librarians
6. Data cleaning and analysis - Sept/October
7. Prepare and submit interim report - December
8. Finalizing (Report submission, etc) - April-07
B- Presentations/advocacy
- 1. IFLA-Africa , Seoul, Korea - August
- Access and availability of African scholarship and copyright
- 2. CODESRIA - September
- 3. Pan-Commonwealth of Learning Conference, Jamaica - October
- 4. Information Dissemination Public Dialog - March 2007
- Information dissemination public dialog to be organize for education and research institutions, policy makers (e.g. Uganda Parliament, Law Reform Commission), civil society organizations and other stakeholders in access to knowledge campaigns (eIFL, INASP, CUUL, IUCEA , etc).
Deliverables
- 1. Research paper based on fellowship research activities
- 2. Policy paper with specific policy recommendations drawing from the research paper, and
- 3. Series of working papers and articles focusing on specific aspects of the overall research project. Number of paper incumbent upon availability of time.
[Click here for complete PDF file]
Activities
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Presentation: "Copyright, Indigenous Knowledge and Africa's University Libraries: the case of Uganda"
Event: IFLA
Location: Seoul, Korea
Date: August 20 - 24, 2006
Download Paper [PDFs]:
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Presentation: "Copyright Consideration for Digitization Initiatives"
Event: Digitization Workshop
Location: Makerere University
Date: July 2006
Download Presentation [PPT]:
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Presentation (by Ian Brown on my behalf): "Limitations and Exceptions for LIS Institutions"
Event: Workshop organized by the Association for Promoting Intellectual Property Rights (APPIA)
Location: Cameroun
Date: August 2006
Download Presentation [PPT]:
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Presentation: "Copyright & Access to Knowledge"
Event: Training Workshop on Copyright and Access to Knowledge (Organized and supported by
Consumer International, Asia)
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Date: June, 2006
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Presentation: "Copyright Challenges for Africa's Higher Education"
Event: The Fourth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF4) (organized and supported by
Commonwealth of Learning, COL and The University of the West Indies Distance Education Centre,
UWIDEC).
Location: Ocho Rios, Jamaica
Date: October/November, 2006
Download Presentaton:
Other Documents: