📢 Today, we announce Kathleen Shearer, ED of @coar_repositories as the Closing Keynote Speaker at the #WACREN2026

👉 https://wacren2026.wacren.net/?profile=keynote-2

For 20 years, Kathleen has helped shape a more interoperable and collaborative research communication ecosystem through #openrepositories and shared standards.

Her closing keynote will highlight how #openinfrastructure and trusted #scholarlycommunication ecosystems are strengthening Africa’s capacity to contribute to the global knowledge economy. 👏 👏

LIBSENSE will hold the #OpenScience Symposium – The Gambia 🇬🇲 as part of the pre-events of #WACREN2026 in Banjul.

The symposium will convene university leaders, graduate deans, librarians, early career researchers, IT directors, policymakers, climate agencies, and national archives.

It forms part of LIBSENSE National Open Science Roadmaps activities aimed at strengthening national open science policies across Africa.

#digitalsovereignty #WACRENinBanjul

At the #WACREN2026 Conference in #Banjul 🇬🇲 Session 1 - 'AI Infrastructure for Advancing Digital Education' will discuss embedding #AI in Africa’s #research and #education platforms.

Watch out for the WACREN #EduAI initiative.

=> https://wacren2026.wacren.net/general-schedule#thursday-session1

#WACREN2026 #EduAI #DigitalSovereignty #WACRENinBanjul

📢 Pleased to announce a new Board of Directors for #WACREN. The new Board brings together distinguished leaders and experts to provide strategic direction and governance for the next phase of our growth and regional impact.

More here => https://wacren.net/en/news/wacren-announces-new-board-of-directors/

#LIBSENSE is hosting an #OpenScience ECR Leadership Workshop on April 28-29, 2026, and we're looking for passionate early career researchers from Nigerian universities to join us. 🟩🟩👩‍🎓 🏫

🔹 It's a pilot program where we'll co-create practical leadership frameworks and toolkits designed for the Nigerian research context.
🔹 Selected participants will become ECR Champions, taking on leadership and mentoring roles for 12 months.

Deadline: February 28, 2026

Apply here: https://libsense.ren.africa/news/696a5634ba80c9edfee43b9a

The Gambia - 'The Smiling Coast of #Africa' is waiting to welcome you to #WACREN2026 Conference to be held at the magnificent Banjul International Convention Centre.

Take advantage of our Early Bird rates to register now and join us. Early Bird registration ends on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
💰 Participants in Africa: $100
💰 Participants outside Africa: $150

Register here: https://wacren2026.wacren.net/register to secure your seat and join the conversation that will shape Africa for digital sovereignty.

🚀 The ORCID-WACA Project kicks off with two calls:

• ORCID-WACA Community of Practice (CoP)
• ORCID-WACA Ambassador Programme

The calls aim to strengthen researcher identification, improve attribution of scholarly outputs, and embed #PIDs across research ecosystems in West & Central #Africa 🌍

👥 Open to librarians, researchers, repository managers, publishers & research administrators.

👉 Join or apply:
https://libsense.ren.africa/news/69560020203dbf3802293e13

#ORCID #OpenScience #AfricanResearch #LIBSENSE

🚀 WACREN is hiring a Chief Technology Officer to lead our technical and technology potforlio.

✉️ Apply: [email protected]
Details: https://wacren.net/en/about-us/careers/terms-of-reference-for-chief-technology-officer-wacren/

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2026

#CTO #AfricaTech #WACREN

🎉 Early bird registration for WACREN 2026 is officially open! Head here - https://wacren2026.wacren.net/register

Register now and secure your Early Bird spot with a discounted conference fees. Don’t miss out on joining us in Banjul on March 26 & 27, 2026.

#WACREN2026 #Research #Education #Africa