At least 200 researchers and education networking community from across Africa and beyond are today meeting in Kigali.

The two-day conference, dubbed "Ubuntu Net-Connect,” is being held under the theme, "Transforming Education and Research through ICT.” The conference is to showcase progress in research and education in Africa.

Francis Tusubira, the chief executive of Ubuntu Net Alliance, said the major focus of the meeting is to foster partnerships in research development between different countries through collaboration and sharing of data. 

Dr Marie-Christine Gasingirwa, the director-general for science, technology and research in the Ministry of Education, on Tuesday said the meeting will bring great benefits to researchers in the country.

"Hosting this conference marks an important milestone in the advancement of the ability of our researchers to fully collaborate nationally, regionally and even internationally,” Dr Gasingirwa said.

Through Ubuntu Net, researchers will share and access data and libraries all over the world and also enable them to join the worldwide community of researchers.

The coordinator of Rwanda Research and Education Network, a member of the Ubuntu alliance, Etienne Ntagwirumugara, said the initiative of setting up a network for researchers is in line with the Transform Africa education agenda.

Ntagwirumugara added that it will facilitate both students and researchers especially with the literature review.

"We have 32 higher learning institutions and will all be connected to our research networks; this will ease data collection for researchers,” he said.