Differences in data-sharing attitudes and behaviours, extended version to African data curators and data management experts

This article reports the results of a survey conducted between 16th November and 8th December 2020 among African data curators and data experts about different aspects of data sharing. The sample of respondents has been extracted from participants to the 1st IASSIST Africa Regional Workshop held on 11th -13th January 2021, Kampala, UGANDA and other data experts and practitioners. First, we recall the main results of a previous article published by IQ about the same argument in order to introduce the new survey. After that we analyse the new findings comparing them with the previous results, splitting the samples between Africans and not Africans.

IASSIST gone glocal

Welcome to the special double issue of IASSIST Quarterly 2021 (IQ vol. 45(3-4) 2021). IASSIST is an acronym. You may think that the word is the contraction of the two words 'I assist'. In my mind, you are right! Whether the word IASSIST or the long explanation of seven words came first is the problem of the chicken and the egg. However, it is undisputed that when it is spelled out, the first I in IASSIST is for International. That has been so from its founding in 1974. Having IASSIST members in USA, Canada, and some (west) European countries was for a long time what we myopic westerners considered to be international. It is with great pleasure that IASSIST Quarterly now presents a double issue from a regional workshop in Africa. Even in 2021, it is only a small number of IASSIST's members who are from regions not part of the western world. However, having a special issue from the African region is an important contribution to making IASSIST truly international. The phrase 'think globally, act locally' is a good framing of the compressed word 'glocal'. This special issue was compiled by guest editors Winny Nekesa Akullo and Robert Stalone Buwule, and they were also behind the Africa Regional Workshop that took place at Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda) on January 11 to 13, 2021. Winny Nekesa Akullo works as Head, Library and Documentation Centre at Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authority in Uganda, and is the IASSIST Africa Regional Secretary. Robert Stalone Buwule is Senior Assistant Librarian at Kyambogo University, also in Uganda. The themes of the workshop addressed a world issue: 'Data Literacy as a catalyst for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)'. Thus, global problems were addressed from a local viewpoint. Great thanks to Winny and Robert for their lead in the arrangement of the workshop and extra thanks to them for collecting, editing, and making the papers of the regional workshop available to us all, and for making the regional international and the local global. Enjoy the reading! Karsten Boye Rasmussen - December 2021

Summary of Collaborative Wildlife Protection and Recovery Initiative (CWPRI) conservation workshop : Least Bell’s Vireo

This special report summarizes the regional workshop held 24–26 April 2018 at the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ecological Services Office in Carlsbad, California on the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and nongovernmental agencies to facilitate the recovery of threatened and endangered species (TES). This workshop focused primarily on one species, the least Bell’s vireo (LBVI), and how to achieve full recovery and eventual delisting through agency partnerships. A major theme of the workshop was applying the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7(a)(1) conservation planning process as a building block towards recovery of LBVI—as well as other threatened, endangered, and at-risk riparian species within the Southwest. The main objective of this workshop was to assemble an interagency and interdisciplinary group of wildlife biologists and managers to detail how the Section 7(a)(1) conservation planning approach, in consultation with the USFWS, can assist in the recovery of LBVI primarily on federal lands but also other public and private lands. Goals of this workshop were to (1) review Section 7(a)(1); (2) outline LBVI ecosystem processes, life history, threats, and conservation solutions; and (3) develop and organize agency commitments to collaborative conservation practices.

Impact of real-time assessment on the training of trainers for the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in India

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of training workshops for knowledge enhancement of program managers prior to rotavirus vaccine (RVV) introduction in the routine immunization program. Method: The study was conducted among the participants attending two training workshops for the introduction of RVV; a state workshop in Pune and a regional workshop in Guwahati. The participants who attended the workshops and participated in both the pre and post-test - 53 for Guwahati and 59 for Pune. Data was collected in real-time via pre- post-test. Results: In both workshops, a comparison of pre-test and post-test scores of all questions taken together showed a significant increase in the knowledge level of the participants (p<0.05). In Guwahati, the knowledge of the participants regarding doses of RVV, inadequate dosing, Vaccine Vial Monitor (VVM), open vial policy, operationalization of RVV, and monetary incentive increased significantly. In Pune, the knowledge of the participants regarding doses of RVV, bundling approach, schedule and dose, storage temperature for Rotavirus vaccine, VVM, open vial policy, vaccine delivery, and operationalization of RVV increased significantly after the training. Conclusions: A pre-planned and well-designed knowledge assessment tool can be used to understand the impact of training workshops in enhancing the knowledge and practical skills of the participants prior to the introduction of a new vaccine. Key Word: Rotavirus vaccine, training, knowledge enhancement, training of trainers

Introducing the Information Literacy Model “Empowering 8” in South Asia with special reference to India and Sri Lanka

Information literacy (IL) is the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, organize and effectively create, use and communicate information to address an issue or a problem. It is a basic human right to lifelong learning. Information itself is becoming a transforming strategic resource of the emerging information society. Without information literacy, the information society will not be able to achieve its full potential. Therefore, the concept and practice of information literacy must be promoted from an early age among the school going children. Information literacy is more relevant for the developing nations to enable themselves to bridge the growing info-divide between the developed and the developing nations. In this context, a regional workshop was held at the University of Colombo to create awareness of information skills for learning among the participants from South and Southeast Asian countries.