The FOSTER project brings together partners across Africa and Europe to advance Open Science. Here is a detailed overview, objectives, project structure, and list of consortium partners.
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Acronyms | FOSTER |
| Project Full Title | FOSTERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SCIENCE IN KENYA AND TANZANIA |
| Project No. | Ref. nr. 101178078 |
| Funding Scheme | Project No. |
| Coordinator | Daystar University |
| Project Start Date | 01/01/2025 |
| Project Duration | 36 Months |
Project Overview
The FOSTER project (Fostering Digital Transformation of Science in Kenya and Tanzania) is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education initiative aimed at strengthening Open Science ecosystems in East Africa. The project supports universities in Kenya and Tanzania to transition towards more transparent, collaborative, and data-driven research practices.
Implemented over a 36-month period (January 2025 – December 2027), the project brings together a consortium of nine partner institutions from Africa and Europe to co-develop sustainable frameworks, digital infrastructures, and policy mechanisms for Open Science adoption.
Project Objectives
Overall, these strategic project objectives seek to:
- Strengthen institutional capacity for Open Science implementation
- Develop national and institutional consensus on Open Science practices
- Support universities in establishing Open Science infrastructures and platforms
- Embed Open Science into formal and informal academic curricula
- Contribute to policy development and regulatory frameworks
- Enhance dissemination, stakeholder engagement, and long-term sustainability
Project Structure
The project is implemented across five Work Packages:
- WP1: Project Management and Quality Assurance
- WP2: Building National and Institutional Consensus on Open Science
- WP3: University Transition to Open Science Practices
- WP4: Embedding Open Science in Institutional Policies
- WP5: Dissemination, Exploitation, and Impact Maximisation
Project Consortium
The FOSTER project is implemented by a consortium of nine institutions:
- Daystar University (Kenya) – Project Coordinator
- Garissa University (Kenya)
- St. Paul’s University (Kenya)
- University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
- Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (Tanzania)
- International School for Social and Business Studies (Slovenia)
- University of Zaragoza (Spain)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands)
- European Policy Development and Research Institute (Slovenia) – Project Co-coordinator
The FOSTER proposal was developed in response to the joint communication: “Towards a comprehensive Strategy with Africa” (Brussels, 09.3.2020), with the focus on support of its two objectives, namely “2. Partners for digital transformation” and “3. Partners for sustainable growth and jobs.”
