Educating Library and Information Science Professionals in Kuwaiti Higher Education

Buarki, Hanadi and Hepworth, Mark and Murray , Ian and McKnight, Cliff Educating Library and Information Science Professionals in Kuwaiti Higher Education., 2008 . In 17th annual BOBCATSSS symposium (Bobcatsss 2009), Porto (Portugal), 28-30 January 2009. (Unpublished) [Conference paper]

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English abstract

The paper presents the results of 54 analysed interviews conducted to present the views and explanations of Library and Information Science (LIS) students, teaching staff and employers on the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills into the LIS curriculum in Kuwaiti Higher education (HE). Semi-structured interviews were used to collect the qualitative data. The findings indicated that there was a lack of common understanding of the term ICT. LIS students lacked ICT skills. The LIS curriculum is outdated and the department uses traditional methods to teach ICT courses. Moreover, factors were found that negatively affected the students’ ICT skills development. The current students’ ICT skills did not satisfy the job market needs. The teaching staff ICT skills were not updated; ICT skills were not incorporated into non-ICT courses; and in general, respondents disapproved of the department’s name change from LIS to Information Science (IS). In order to satisfy the LIS professionals in Kuwaiti HE, initial indications suggest that LIS graduates should posses at minimum all the research defined skills in addition to other skills needed by the job market. The curriculum should be updated; more practical training should be provided; the department of LIS needs to add new ICT courses; support new learning methods to teach these courses; adopt professional associations’ standards to enhance the curriculum; collaborate with employers to meet their needs; the teaching staff needs to update their ICT skills and incorporate ICT skills into all courses. This initial phase of the research suggested that to overcome the negative motivational factors: students need to be motivated by family, friends and teaching staff; instruction of ICT courses should be in English; the same educational opportunities should be offered to males and females; and provide the necessary resources and facilities. These findings were recognised by the teaching staff.

Item type: Conference paper
Keywords: ICT skills, information and communication technology skills, higher education, kuwait, library and information science students
Subjects: G. Industry, profession and education. > GH. Education.
C. Users, literacy and reading. > CB. User studies.
L. Information technology and library technology
Depositing user: 2009 Bobcatsss
Date deposited: 03 Apr 2009
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:14
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/12941

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