Global Visibility of the University of Namibia’s Digital Repositories: A Critical Analysis of Discoverability Through Generic Search Engines

This study explores the intersection of search engine optimisation (SEO) and repository as open access (OA) mandates gain prominence, academic institutions are increasingly called upon to enhance the visibility and accessibility of their scholarly outputs. This is largely facilitated through digital repositories and related OA initiatives, which serve as critical infrastructures for global knowledge dissemination. Openly available research enhances discoverability, fosters knowledge equity, and contributes meaningfully to national and regional development goals. This study investigates the global visibility of the University of Namibia's (UNAM) digital institutional repositories. A sample of fifty (50) digital resources from the UNAM Library's repositories was randomly selected and assessed through search queries across five widely used search engines: Google, Yahoo, Baidu, Yandex, and Bing. Search terms included subject-specific keywords and varied combinations of titles and descriptors. The findings reveal that Google significantly outperforms the other search engines in indexing and retrieving UNAM’s repository content, whereas visibility on the remaining platforms was negligible or non-existent. The study underscores the need for enhanced search engine optimization (SEO), improved metadata structuring, and strategic repository management to ensure broader access and visibility of African research outputs on the digital global landscape.