Theses, dissertations, research papers and reports produced by Malawi’s universities and research institutions can have far greater reach when they are preserved and made accessible online. MAREN is strengthening its capacity to help institutions achieve this through digital repositories.

The strengthened capacity will enable MAREN to provide technical support to member institutions in establishing and managing repositories where their research outputs can be preserved and made available to researchers, students, policymakers and the wider public.

To build this capacity, MAREN Systems Engineers Joyce Mtawali and Jones Kumwenda attended a technical training in Kigali, Rwanda, from 3–7 August 2026 under the IOI training programme organised by UbuntuNet Alliance. The training focused on the deployment, configuration and management of digital repository systems, including DSpace, an open-source platform used to organise and share research outputs.

Joyce Mtawali and Jones Kumwenda during the training

The practical experience gained will enable MAREN to provide more consistent support to institutions, from setting up repositories to maintaining, upgrading and managing them over time.

For member institutions, this means greater access to technical expertise without having to independently manage all the systems required to operate a digital repository. It also creates opportunities for universities and research institutions to make their research more visible beyond their campuses.

The training’s value extended beyond the technical sessions. It brought together teams from National Research and Education Networks across the region, creating opportunities to compare experiences, share practical solutions and learn from challenges faced by peers working in similar environments.

“The value of regional training is that we are able to learn from NRENs dealing with similar challenges, share practical experiences and bring new approaches back to our own environment. At the same time, MAREN has an opportunity to contribute its own experiences to the wider NREN community,” said Mtawali.

Joyce Mtawali receiving an award after winning a quiz

The knowledge exchanged through such initiatives can therefore continue to benefit MAREN after the training, as lessons from across the region are adapted to local needs and shared within the organisation.

Ultimately, stronger digital repository services can help ensure that research generated in Malawi is not simply produced and stored, but preserved, discovered and put to wider use.