Gwanda State University Successful Open Access & Grant Writing Workshop for International Open Access Week 2026
On 21 October 2026, Gwanda State University (GSU) marked International Open Access Week 2026 by hosting a comprehensive Open Access & Grant Writing Workshop at the University's Recreational Centre.
Organised collaboratively by the Library Department, the Department of Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, and the Centre for Wildlife Conservation and Research, the event brought together academics, researchers and university library staff to explore this year's crucial theme: “The Cost of Knowledge.”
The workshop was strategically structured across dedicated sessions to provide practical guidance on navigating open-access publishing, identifying research funding and mastering grant proposal writing.
The event kicked off with welcome remarks and an introduction by the Director of Research, Innovation and Industrialisation, Dr P. Zanamwe. The University Librarian, Mr P. Ndhlovu, presented this year's theme for the celebrations, highlighting the financial, human and environmental costs associated with knowledge production and consumption. He also highlighted GSU's strides and milestones towards Open Access, notably becoming a signatory to the Berlin Declaration on Open Access. Participants explored cutting-edge technological integrations through a presentation on EcoAI delivered by Econet, followed by an insightful, comprehensive presentation on Publishing in Open Access Journals.
Session 1: EcoAI and Open Access publishing presentations
Chairing the second session, Dr Banda, Director of the Centre for Wildlife Conservation and Research, guided discussions on securing research funding. Ms J. Chigunwe and Dr Makwati presented strategies for finding funding opportunities, understanding current research funding trends and effectively pitching grant proposals. This was followed by a session focused on actionable methodologies for grant writing, which outlined key steps in grant writing alongside common pitfalls to avoid. It also provided delegates with hands-on insights into designing a Logical Framework Matrix, completing full project documents and managing the financial aspects of research grants.
By empowering researchers with practical grant-writing tools and fostering a deeper understanding of open-access publishing, Gwanda State University continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing innovative research, removing barriers to scholarly information and addressing the global impact of the “cost of knowledge.”
Other activities throughout the week included an outside station aimed at raising awareness and educating the GSU community on the recommended Open Access resources that can be used for research, teaching and learning.
