Enhancing Development Through International Collaboration by Schools of Librarianship and Information Studies

Abstract

This paper explores how international collaboration by Schools of Librarianship and Information Studies (SLIS) with other SLIS, other disciplines and the practitioner communities could make a significant contribution to the development of library and information services. Collaboration to date has had a limited impact. Based on a review of not only the literature of Librarianship and Information Studies, but also some of the literature on internationalization of higher education, and on collaboration in research and in business, the paper indicates the barriers to collaboration and actions that may contribute to successful collaboration. The support necessary to sustain international collaboration is more likely to be attracted by comparative research studies focused on the role of library and information services in facilitating developments that are widely perceived to be economically or socially important. An international context would facilitate a more rigorous comparison of the resources allocated to library and information services and the benefits derived. This would reveal more clearly the impact that variations in provision make on the achievement of government or organizational goals, and help make a stronger case for enhanced support. A UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair is proposed as a potential formal mechanism to provide strategic leadership for developing appropriate activities.

9.Enhancing Library and Information Science Education through Cross-border Collaboration

“…In view of its strategic importance not only for meeting the challenges but also in promoting LIS education, collaboration has received prominent attention in the literature. It is, therefore, "not a new phenomenon in education for librarianship and information work" (Johnson, 2009). The term 'collaboration' has been defined in the literature in relation to other terms like cooperation, partnership, networking and alliance (Ochalla, 2007;Al-Suqri, 2010;Sacchananand, 2012).…”

“…Local collaboration is the one existing among LIS schools within defined national boundaries while regional collaboration can exist among LIS schools in a particular region of the world. International collaboration exists among LIS schools across national boundaries and it has been described by Johnson (2009) citing Jefferson (1977) as "a natural extension of national cooperation". Cross-border collaboration, therefore, exists among LIS schools located in different countries.…”

“…Sacchanand (2012) rolled up successful collaboration factors into 3PC strategies which are policy, people, process and communication, commitment, credibility. Johnson (2009) particularly enumerated the success actions to include the following:  evaluating the potential for collaboration before entering into a commitment;  understanding the prospective partner's capacity, motivation for the collaboration and the sense of shared purpose;…”

The impact on education for librarianship and information studies of the Bologna process and related European Commission programmes – and some outstanding issues in Europe and beyond

“…54 International collaboration between Schools of Librarianship and Information Studies could make a significant contribution not only to the development of library and information services, but also indirectly to economic and social progress. 55 This was recognised by a substantial grant from the separate European Union development assistance budget that supported an Anglo-Danish project to modernise libraries and education for librarianship in South Africa in its immediate post-apartheid transition. 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 As yet, however, even though the European Commission has prioritised the development of the 'Information Society' in its international programme of cooperation, these opportunities for international cooperative activity do not appear to have been successfully exploited by any great number of LIS Schools.…”

Contextual factors affecting the development of digital library education in Vietnam

“…Consequently, the number of DLE programmes around the world has increased, though none of these are in Vietnam. The surveys and research about DLE by Spink and Cool (1999), Saracevic and Dalbello (2001), Liu (2004), Perry (2005), Singh and Wijetunge (2006), Murray and Welch (2009), Johnson (2009), Phuritsabamand Devi (2009 , Nieuwenhuysen (2011), S.H. Nguyen & Chowdhury (2011, and Myburgh & Tammaro (2013) show that the number of educational institutions which offer DLE (including integrated and independent DL programmes) has been increasing, and there is the need for digital librarians who play an important role in the development of DLs.…”