Advancing Research Through DataCite's Global Access Fund: Zimbabwe University Libraries Consortium (ZULC), Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe University Libraries Consortium (ZULC) recently concluded a comprehensive outreach programme, funded by the Global Access Fund. The programme was aimed at raising awareness of persistent identifiers (PIDs) among Zimbabwean higher education institutions. The programme, which spanned ten months from January to October 2024, focused on promoting the adoption of PIDs to improve the visibility, accessibility, and traceability of scholarly outputs. Through workshops, training sessions, webinars, and advocacy efforts, the project successfully engaged librarians, researchers, ICT staff, and administrators across the country in the adoption and implementation of PIDs. The PID awareness programme began with a research study in January. The study assessed the existing systems and opportunities for PID integration at institutions with research data repositories. This was followed by an institutional assessment phase in February where readiness for PID adoption was evaluated. These early stages were critical for identifying institutions that would benefit most from the initiative and setting the groundwork for a broader rollout of PIDs.

One of the highlights of the programme was the two-day workshop on PIDs, held from 24th to 25th April 2024, in Bindura. This workshop took a train-the-trainer approach and was attended by 22 librarians from 19 universities. Participants were introduced to different types of PIDs, including Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs), Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID), and Research Organization Registry (ROR), which are crucial for ensuring that research outputs remain discoverable and credited. The workshop also featured practical sessions where attendees learned how to generate and apply PIDs in academic settings. Following the workshop, these librarians returned to their institutions and conducted 38 training sessions for academics, researchers, and fellow librarians, further disseminating the knowledge they had gained.

After the workshop in April, the programme entered the DOI integration phase, where participating institutions began formally adopting DOIs and other PIDs. The success of these efforts was evident by the end of the programme, with 17 institutions confirming the adoption of PIDs, particularly DOIs and ORCID iDs. These efforts led to the creation of 348 ORCID accounts by researchers, marking a significant step forward in aligning Zimbabwe's academic institutions with international research standards.

In June, the programme continued with a training initiative for librarians, further strengthening their capacity to promote PIDs and support researchers in implementing these tools. This was followed by an advocacy campaign in July, aimed at increasing awareness of PIDs among researchers and academic leaders. The campaign emphasized the importance of PIDs in enhancing research visibility and meeting the Zimbabwe Council for Higher Education's (ZIMCHE) publishing standards.

August and September 2024 saw further engagement, with specialized training for researchers and support staff, ensuring that all key stakeholders were equipped to use PIDs effectively. A webinar was done on 5 September showcasing the importance of PIDs and strategies for implementing PIDs in research institutions. These training sessions not only expanded the technical skills of participants but also fostered closer collaboration between libraries and research offices, bridging the gap between academic administration and scholarly communication.

The programme concluded in October 2024 with a final phase dedicated to collecting data and analysing the impact of the outreach activities. A survey conducted among participants revealed that most institutions had embraced PIDs, with many librarians reporting strengthened relationships with researchers. Researchers and administrators expressed excitement about the benefits of PIDs, particularly in terms of enhancing the visibility and discoverability of their research outputs. While some challenges, such as network connectivity issues and initial resistance to PIDs, were noted, the overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive.

The PIDs outreach programme has created numerous opportunities for Zimbabwe's academic libraries. Beyond the technical training, it has facilitated networking among librarians and researchers, provided platforms for advertising electronic resources, and ensured that the nation's academic institutions are better equipped to meet global publishing standards. Importantly, the programme has strengthened the role of academic librarians, positioning them as key players in scholarly communication and research management.

It can be noted that the project was a success, and ZULC has joined DataCite through consortium membership and the universities in Zimbabwe are benefiting from the various services that are offered by DataCite. A network of scholarly communication librarians was created, and they have been building capacity among the researchers, ICT officers, and administrators within their institutions. ZULC is now working on creating a community of practice for PID adoption and use. This programme enabled experts to train other researchers in the future.