The Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN) and the Tanzania Education and Research Network (TERNET) have been officially admitted into eduGAIN, a global inter-federation service that connects identity federations around the world, enabling seamless access to online content, services, and resources for the research and education community.
This milestone marks a significant step forward for both countries’ research and education sectors, reinforcing their commitment to global standards and enhancing access to digital infrastructure that supports academic excellence, innovation, and international collaboration.
“Being part of eduGAIN places MAREN in a strategic position to support the digital transformation of Malawi’s education and research institutions,” said Mr. Solomon Dindi, CEO of MAREN. “We are now able to offer secure, trusted, and scalable authentication and access services to our community, opening up a world of opportunity for students, researchers, and institutions.”
eduGAIN simplifies access to services hosted in other federations and enables users to log in using their institutional credentials. For NRENs like MAREN and TERNET, joining eduGAIN does not just represent a technical upgrade, it is a powerful enabler of regional integration, research collaboration, and participation in the global knowledge economy.
The admission of these NRENs into eduGAIN aligns with broader continental and global goals of fostering inclusive education, open science, and technological empowerment. It strengthens the digital foundations necessary for building knowledge societies where innovation and research are accessible, collaborative, and impactful.
The implications are far-reaching: national universities can now more easily participate in cross-border research projects, access international educational content, and contribute to open science repositories. Libraries, laboratories, and learning platforms that were previously inaccessible due to authentication limitations are now within reach, leveling the playing field for institutions in Malawi and Tanzania.
As the digital landscape continues to evolve, MAREN and TERNET’s participation in eduGAIN positions both countries to lead in the adoption of global best practices in identity federation, digital trust frameworks, and infrastructure for open research collaboration.