The ACA2K Network

Eight African countries have formed the African Copyright and Access to Knowledge network (ACA2K network) to investigate the relationship between copyright and education in Africa. The team will, between this year and 2010, gather research evidence and engage policy makers in efforts to ensure maximum use of copyright law flexibilities that have the potential to increase access to learning materials in the study countries. The countries which will provide the multidisciplinary team are Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana and Uganda.

Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and South Africa's Shuttleworth Foundation are supporting the ACA2K network through the LINK Centre of Wits University in Johannesburg.

According to the activities guidelines, researchers in the study countries will investigate the "copyright environment", namely, policies, laws, regulations, practices and perceptions, in the respective countries in relation to access to learning materials, with emphasis on university learning environments.