Many researchers and students in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda struggle to access and publish scientific and technical articles because of financial barriers including publishing fees and subscriptions to research libraries. To help, IEEE has made its Xplore Digital Library more accessible by offering discounts on subscriptions and lowering fees to publish articles. But the number of papers published by technologists in the three nations still lags behind those from other developing countries.

It might be that many researchers haven’t received training in methodology, been instructed on how to write academic articles, or fully understand the process for publishing in scientific journals.

Staff from the IEEE Publication and Information Products group and IEEE volunteers held educational workshops this year in the three countries. The sessions covered the publishing process, IEEE publication outlets, ways to ensure the integrity of research papers, and tips for making better use of IEEE Xplore.

“We want to make sure those in this region are on par with other research communities and ensure they have the support and knowledge they need to make informed publishing decisions,” says Kristopher Zakrzewski, the IEEE area manager for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Central Asia. “Our goal is to give them the tools they need to increase visibility and allow them to participate in global conversations in the technology space.”

More than 120 participants attended the workshops, which were held in February at the Novotel Nairobi Westlands hotel, the University of Rwanda , and Makerere University , in Kampala, Uganda.

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