Norwegian-Ugandan Campus Networking Collaboration

On 23rd October 2023, the Research and Education Network for Uganda (RENU) entered into a twinning partnership with the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (Sikt). The twinning partnership is a commitment by the two institutions to have a working relationship that will facilitate sharing and learning from each other for mutual benefit.

2. november 2023

Press release

Supported by GÉANT, the European Regional Research and Education Network (RREN), the twinning partnership is a pilot project within GN5-1 WP3 T1, and the results of the project will contribute to a proposal for a GÉANT National Research and Education Network (NREN) twinning program for the GN5-2 project.

The two NRENs, Sikt and RENU, aim to collaborate with each other for the exchange of expertise and to improve capacity learning by both parties in the area of campus networking.

Sikt has been offering a successful Campus Network as a Service (CNaaS) program to its customers for four years now. RENU intends to deploy this service in Uganda and is dedicated to gaining a better understanding of the service functionality and operation through the twinning program with Sikt.

Sikt and RENU agreed to a technology transfer project, with the goal of enabling RENU to pilot a CNaaS deployment in Uganda. The parties also agreed to share international best practices to enhance services to improve the parties' respective research and education communities.

Benefits of the Partnership

The anticipated benefits of this pilot twinning project between Sikt and RENU are:

  • The establishment of the GÉANT NREN twinning program for GN5.2 to establish an improved network of people and NRENs around the globe.
  • Facilitating collaborative research initiatives between the paired NRENs under the GÉANT NREN twinning program to advance global research and innovation across various disciplines.
  • Fostering closer cooperation and partnerships between the NRENs involved in the twinning program to create a stronger network of institutions and promote the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise.
  • Fostering closer cooperation and partnerships between the NRENs involved in the twinning program to create a stronger network of institutions and promote the exchange of knowledge, resources, and expertise.
  • Providing RENU with insights and methodologies for efficient network management acquired from Sikt.

About RENU

RENU is Uganda’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). RENU is a member-based organization founded in 2006, and incorporated in 2008 as a not-for-profit organisation and company limited by guarantee. As a member-based organization, all its operations are member-driven and member-focused. Members, therefore, play a critical role in deciding the direction of the NREN.

RENU’s major goal is to uplift the quality of education and research through the provision of ICT services. RENU membership comprises research and education institutions such as universities, Other Tertiary Institutions (OTIs), schools, and other organisations engaged in research. Currently, RENU has a membership of over 200 institutions, with over 500 campuses connected to the RENU network countrywide.

About Sikt

Read more about Sikt

Recent news from Sikt