Learn more about the Research4life MOOC

In 2019, Research4Life created an  online course called the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) as a pilot program to support the continued goal of equipping existing and potential users of the available programmes with the knowledge and skills required to access and use the information effectively and efficiently. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and Elsevier funded the pilot program.

The first MOOC entitled Research4Life Online Training Tools to develop capacities in information use, scholarly communication, and information management in least developed countries included case studies and examples from all the five Research4Life programmes including AGORA, Hinari, OARE, GOALI and ARDI. The pilot program was able to contribute to the development of skills and competences in access to scientific resources for low-income countries.

That was an eye opener to me. I used to hear my colleagues mention words like - Bibliometrics, Scopus, Dimensions, Clinical Key. I would wonder which world are they coming from. With some google search then, I knew it was about literature research and referencing but missed to grasp the whole concept. I now have a clearer concept of this hidden world of academia. Thanks to Research for Life for this opportunity. In my position as a Managing Director of a Medical Training College, you should see some advocacy and marketing activities for Hinari and related resources.

Reuben Waswa Nabie, Kenya

This is my first online course and I enjoyed learning about the R4L portals. We use Hinari and have access to AGORA, ARDI, GOALI and OARE. This course gave me the opportunity to learn about the other portals, so I decided to do the quizzes and exams for all of them. I have learned a lot and am very glad that I registered for this course. A big thank you to Ilkay and the team for organizing this course.

Dillie George, Papua New Guinea

Am so happy and excited to have gotten a platform to learn about the entire Research 4 life programme package and to have been apart of this MOOC, as well as the Advocacy and Marketing program. I work in an institution where all this is really important for me and am positive it comes in handy. I couldn't ask for any more teachers like the ones I have always encountered on these courses. You align the contents pretty much well and for everyone to understand. It is quite challenging to do written tutorials and make sure to drive the desired points home, but not with your great team. (Bravo!…)

Pamella Kaganzi, Uganda

Thanks so much for the response. The course taken so far had increased my knowledge. As I learn, I  share.  The 'think, check, submit'video was shared with faculty members  in my place of work. They were grateful to R4Life. I just hope administrators of academic institutions will get to know these and give academics their deserved right/benefits. Thanks to you and your team for the great work you are doing

Esther Abosede Awojobi, Nigeria

I am grateful for this opportunity which will directly impact on my research outputs.

Abdulai Adams, Ghana

Yes, of course! I found this course very well designed which covers all information required for a librarian. In addition, anyone who wants to be a trainer in any area of Research4Life programme must take this course.

Jagadish Chandra Aryal, Nepal

I am as librarian I highly recommend the course to my colleagues because it helps us so much in carrying out training to the library users helping them in doing their research.

Ruth Biira, Uganda

This is the way to go l would definitely spread the word to other institutions so that they can richly gain from what Research for life provides.

Metricia Shamiso Rerayi, Zimbabwe

I strongly recommend it especially for researchers, information scientists and librarians

Jennifer Nasirumbi, Uganda

A great course for librarians in law, medical, environmental and agricultural libraries.

Nevermore Sithole, Zimbabwe

Tanzania, My Institution, Mzumbe University, Tanzania is one of the Institutions that have an effective use of Research4Life database, especially GOALI and ARDI, hence we are very proud of you. This course will flourish the fruits of educational freedom and development to my institution, I will impart this knowledge to my fellow librarians and researchers at large. Thank you very much

Juma Athman, Tanzania

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to participate in this course. I have learned a lot during this time and hope to make use of the knowledge acquired to access materials on research done in the health sector. Am also grateful to Elsevier Foundation and FAO (UN), for the financial support of this training.

Dr Stephen M. Kiluva, Kenya

I take this opportunity to congratulate and thank you for the efforts to enable the success of the course. It has been a wonderful learning experience, calling for sacrifice and dedication.

Millicent Nyaboke Ogendi, Kenya

I think I had one objective when I registered to take this MOOC training. Now, post-training, I would say I coined many more objective over the course of the course, and I achieved all my objectives -- old and new!! The final phases and the assessment also look to be leading me to some more objectives that I need to carry on learning and knock down these too in the future.

I would like to say, "Thank you!!" to all in the MOOC organization and facilitation teams. Great was also the entire community of learners like me.

Amare Molla Setegn, Ethiopia

At the end of this resourceful online course, I would like to thank the course funders, Elsevier foundation ad FAO. I also congratulate and thank the facilitators for the efforts to enable the success of the course. It has been a wonderful learning experience sharing that has improved my skills and has added a lot for my career. I am very happy for this fruitful and memorial moment of discussion with every one of the team.

Yérobessor DABIRE, Burkina Faso