1. Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Denver, Colorado USA
Open Data Policy and Infrastructure: Case of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
Presented at the At
SciDataCon 2016
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, Denver, Colorado USA
September 12th, 2016
Muliaro Wafula PhD. FCCS,FCSK
Director ICT Centre of Excellence and Open Data –iCEOD
JKUAT
iCEOD
iCEOD

2. JKUAT Support for Open Data
JKUAT co-hosted the International Workshop on Open Data for Science and Sustainability in Developing Countries in August 2014.
Acting on the recommendations and resolutions of the workshop, JKUAT established a special vehicle for advancing open data interest in science and technology called the ICT Centre of Excellence and Open Data -iCEOD. Link
JKUAT is seeking partners to build Open Data Infrastructure at iCEOD with Capacity to ensure storage and publication of data in desired format with digital preservation capability.
JKUAT joined the Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) in 2014 and is the official representative of Kenya.
JKUAT has taken a major step towards creating an enabling environment for open science and open research data by developing in consultation with CODATA, an Open Research Data Policy that is now implemented.

3. Open Data Policy Key Objectives:
Promote Data publication, preservation and reuse.
Promote multi-disciplined research capabilities and activities that are ICT enabled
Accelerate ICT innovation through equipping innovators with requisite skills and credible and quality data
Change culture of keeping data private to public by default

4. The long end of the tail…..has individual scientists data
Much of this revolution is taking place at the top end – at the head and neck
Although ‘big data’ is all the rage….the vast majority of data sets created through research fall into the “Long Tail”
Source – Wagging the Long Tail, Kathleen Shearer et al, 2014

5. JORD Policy
JKUAT in consultation with CODATA, developed and implemented an open research data policy (JORD) Policy (February 2016)
JORD expected benefits include
ROI
Encouragement of diverse studies and opinion
Promotion of new areas of work not envisioned by the initial investigators.
Strengthen the credibility of scholarly publications
Development of new products and services
Support JKUAT open data platform (

6. Capacity Building for Data Science & Open Research Data
Reviewed data management courses in Computer Sc. and IT courses
Currently teaching Business and Data Analytics as part of coursework for PhD IT students.
Developing MSc in Data Science .
Offering professional training and certification in partnership with IBM in Data Management, Business/Data Analytics, Cyber Security, Cloud Technologies, and Mobile Application Development
Have 7 PhD students researching on Open Data related topics

7. Open Data Challenges
Lack of adequate legislation for supporting an enabling environment for Open Science and Open Research Data to thrive.
Need for more advocacy for Open Science & Open Research Data in Kenya.
Lack of Open Research Data Policies and Strategies at Institutional and National Level
Weak research management systems

8. Open Data Challenges…2
5. The public, researchers are not adequately sensitized on open science and the value of opening research data.
6. Recognizing & Rewarding mechanism need to be put in place.
7. The tradition and culture has been to keep data private by default.
A deliberate strategy need to be taken to change this mindset
iCEOD is working on innovating simpler ways to access scientific data/information through a cloud based Open Data Platform (

9. Thank You! Asante !