Open science and digital scholarly communication: Key takeaways from the emerging trends in digital education webinar series

The fourth instalment of the Emerging Trends in Digital Education series was held on 23 June 2026 by the Africa-Europe Innovation Platform (AEIP) and the Association of African Universities (AAU). The webinar, titled Open Science and Digital Scholarly Communication, was facilitated by Dr Florence Plockey, University Librarian at Accra Technical University, and brought together higher education professionals from across Africa and Europe.

The webinar highlighted the transformative role of open science in research and scholarly communication. Among the key insights were the variety of open access models — Gold, Green, Diamond and Hybrid — and the significance of digital tools and platforms such as Google Scholar, OpenDR, institutional repositories, SHERPA/RoMEO, and persistent identifiers such as DOI and ORCID, which facilitate the accessibility and traceability of research outputs.

Participants pointed out that open science lowers costs for researchers and students while increasing research impact and creating an inclusive environment, thus improving cross-disciplinary collaboration. Effective implementation of open science requires strong institutional support. Universities and libraries play a central role by guiding researchers and building the skills needed to adopt open practices. Equally important are awareness-raising activities, training opportunities and practical guidance that help translate open science principles into everyday research practice.

Participants also reflected on the challenges that continue to hinder wider adoption. Unequal access to digital infrastructure remains a significant barrier, while traditional research evaluation systems often fail to capture the broader societal and policy impact of research. Embedding open science principles within institutional policies and strategies was identified as a critical step towards ensuring long-term sustainability and accelerating uptake across Africa’s higher education landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Open science is a moral and practical imperative for equitable knowledge sharing.
• Transparency, accessibility, and collaboration are fundamental principles.
• Institutional support and capacity building are necessary for effective adoption.
• African universities are encouraged to normalise open science practices to strengthen research impact globally.

About the Emerging Trends in Digital Education series

The Emerging Trends in Digital Education webinar series is designed to equip academics, researchers and higher education professionals with practical knowledge and collaborative approaches to enhance teaching, research and institutional innovation.

The series explores emerging digital technologies in higher education, promotes inclusive and equitable digital learning practices, strengthens digital pedagogy, and fosters Africa-Europe academic collaboration. Through expert-led discussions and institutional case studies, participants gain practical insights that can be applied within their own universities and organisations.

Upcoming webinars

The series continues with four exciting sessions that will further explore the evolving digital education landscape:

Name of Speaker	Date & Time	Topic	Overview
Forka Lawrantine Teacher	4 August 2026 14:00–15:30 GMT	Digital Skills for Academics in the 21st Century and Beyond	This session focuses on the essential digital skills academics need to teach, research, and lead effectively in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape. Participants will explore practical competencies such as digital content creation, effective use of learning platforms, online communication and collaboration, information and data literacy, AI and academic integrity, cybersecurity, and digital wellbeing. The session supports participants to assess their current capabilities and develop a realistic plan for continuous upskilling beyond the webinar.
Emmanuel Kofi Akowuah Director of KNUST E-Learning Centre	29 September 2026 14:00–15:30 GMT	Embedding Digital Skills into Curricula: Institutional Case Studies	This session examines how universities are embedding digital skills across programmes through curriculum redesign, assessment innovation, and staff–student partnerships. Using institutional case studies, participants will explore models for mapping digital competencies to learning outcomes, integrating authentic digital tasks and micro-credentials, and building sustainable support structures (policy, staff development, and learning technology services). The session concludes with practical lessons and a simple framework participants can adapt to their own departments and institutions.
Rev Dr. Charles Nii Ashitey Amanor-Commey	30 September 2026 14:00–15:30 GMT	Designing Engaging Hybrid and Blended Learning Environments	This session focuses on designing engaging hybrid and blended learning environments that intentionally connect in-person and online learning. Participants will explore practical models for structuring learning activities, building interaction and community, and ensuring clear communication and support across modalities. The session also highlights strategies for assessment, feedback, and technology selection that improve participation, flexibility, and learning outcomes.
Roberta Crocetti ProjectFIN srl	1 September 2026 14:00–15:30 GMT	Student Digital Competencies and Future Employability	This session explores the growing importance of student digital competencies in preparing learners for the future workforce. It will examine how higher education institutions can equip students with essential digital skills such as data literacy, digital communication, AI awareness, cybersecurity awareness, digital collaboration, critical thinking, and the effective use of digital tools for innovation and productivity.