International Conferenece on
International Conferenece on
Libraries (ICOL) 2007
Libraries (ICOL) 2007
Producing library professionals :
Producing library professionals :
the MLIS programme
the MLIS programme
N.N. Edzan, A.N. Zainab and Diljit Singh
N.N. Edzan, A.N. Zainab and Diljit Singh
Library and Information Science Unit
Library and Information Science Unit
Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology
Faculty of Computer Science & Information Technology
University of Malaya
Overview
Overview
Introduction
Introduction
Programme and Curriculum Review
Programme and Curriculum Review
2006 Curriculum Review
2006 Curriculum Review
Recommendations of the 10 April
Recommendations of the 10 April
2007 Review
Introduction
Introduction
First started in 1987 but suspended due to lack of qualified
First started in 1987 but suspended due to lack of qualified
teaching staff
teaching staff
1993 - Ministry of Education wanted the programme to be
1993 - Ministry of Education wanted the programme to be
revived
revived
1995 - classes started with 25 students
1995 - classes started with 25 students
Now – offered every semester, intake of 10 – 15 students
Now – offered every semester, intake of 10 – 15 students
per semester
per semester
Now – 120 students within the system, 206 has graduated
Now – 120 students within the system, 206 has graduated
Working in various libraries, information centers, Ministry
Working in various libraries, information centers, Ministry
Introduction
Introduction
Now – a Professor, a visiting Professor from India, 2 Associate
Now – a Professor, a visiting Professor from India, 2 Associate
Professors, 2 lecturers, a visiting lecturer from the Philippines
Professors, 2 lecturers, a visiting lecturer from the Philippines
and a SLAB scholar
and a SLAB scholar
We teach, write, conduct research, supervise and publish
We teach, write, conduct research, supervise and publish
MJLIS
MJLIS
Generally – ok
Generally – ok
But – emerging trends & roles within the profession
But – emerging trends & roles within the profession
We need to relook at our programme
We need to relook at our programme
Curriculum Review
Curriculum Review
Various opinions on the need for curriculum review
Various opinions on the need for curriculum review
Curriculum review takes into account the opinions of
Curriculum review takes into account the opinions of
stakeholders – existing students, potential students,
stakeholders – existing students, potential students,
existing employers, potential employers, academics,
existing employers, potential employers, academics,
financing organisation, etc. – helps determine state –
financing organisation, etc. – helps determine state –
of-the-art requirements, expectations, emerging roles,
of-the-art requirements, expectations, emerging roles,
emerging trends
emerging trends
Has to be supplemented by a tracer study of graduates
Has to be supplemented by a tracer study of graduates
– helps determine employability, future directions,
– helps determine employability, future directions,
relevance
relevance
Should be able to see local emerging trends within the
Should be able to see local emerging trends within the
MLIS Programme Review &
MLIS Programme Review &
Curriculum Review
Curriculum Review
1997 – programme of study and entry
1997 – programme of study and entry
requirements
requirements
2001 – entry requirements
2001 – entry requirements
2000 – curriculum review – basic LIS
2000 – curriculum review – basic LIS
courses retained as core & more IT related
courses retained as core & more IT related
courses introduced as electives
courses introduced as electives
2006 – curriculum review on 28 February
2006 – curriculum review on 28 February
2006 with stakeholders
2006 CURRICULUM
2006 CURRICULUM
REVIEW
MLIS Programme Structure - retain
MLIS Programme Structure - retain
1
1
Coursework
Coursework
6 core courses (6 x 3 = 18 credit
6 core courses (6 x 3 = 18 credit
hours)
hours)
6 elective courses (6 x 3 = 18
6 elective courses (6 x 3 = 18
credit hours)
credit hours)
Total = 36 credit hours
Total = 36 credit hours
2
2
Coursework
Coursework
&
&
Dissertation
Dissertation
Part A
Part A
: 6 core courses (6 x 3 =
: 6 core courses (6 x 3 =
18 credit hours)
18 credit hours)
Part B
Part B
: A dissertation = 12 credit
: A dissertation = 12 credit
hours
hours
Total = 36 credit hours
Total = 36 credit hours
3
We Need to Change Because We Need To …..
We Need to Change Because We Need To …..
Be on the same level with similar programmes in other
Be on the same level with similar programmes in other
countries
countries
Be sensitive to the requirements of the profession
Be sensitive to the requirements of the profession
Meet the requirements of employers
Meet the requirements of employers
Provide specialization within LIS
Provide specialization within LIS
Build upon our strengths and address our weaknesses
Build upon our strengths and address our weaknesses
Support the vision and mission of the University and the
Support the vision and mission of the University and the
Faculty
Faculty
Make optimun use of the physical and human resources
Make optimun use of the physical and human resources
available
We …..
We …..
Re-look at our own program objectives
Re-look at our own program objectives
Took into consideration changes in educational environment
Took into consideration changes in educational environment
(e.g. the increasing number of universities and university
(e.g. the increasing number of universities and university
colleges, emplacement of full-time teacher-librarians in
colleges, emplacement of full-time teacher-librarians in
schools)
schools)
Examined curricula of other top ranking universities
Examined curricula of other top ranking universities
Took into consideration students comments about the program
Took into consideration students comments about the program
Took into consideration our strengths ( eg. strong research
Took into consideration our strengths ( eg. strong research
output) and weaknesses (e.g. technology electives from MIT
output) and weaknesses (e.g. technology electives from MIT
were unpopular)
Learning Outcomes : replaced programme objectives;
Learning Outcomes : replaced programme objectives;
student-centred and not instructor-centred
student-centred and not instructor-centred
1.
1.
Develop, evaluate, manage
Develop, evaluate, manage
and preserve collections of
and preserve collections of
information sources
information sources
2.
2.
Organize and represent
Organize and represent
information resources
information resources
3.
3.
Apply management and
Apply management and
leadership skills necessary
leadership skills necessary
to effectively and efficiently
to effectively and efficiently
manage information
manage information
services in a variety of
services in a variety of
library and information
library and information
settings
settings
4.
4.
Analyze and identify
Analyze and identify
information needs and
information needs and
educate users of libraries
educate users of libraries
information environments
information environments
1.
1.
Develop, evaluate, manage
Develop, evaluate, manage
and preserve collections of
and preserve collections of
information sources
information sources
2.
2.
Organize and represent
Organize and represent
information resources
information resources
3.
3.
Apply management and
Apply management and
leadership skills necessary
leadership skills necessary
to effectively and efficiently
to effectively and efficiently
manage information
manage information
services in a variety of
services in a variety of
library and information
library and information
settings
settings
4.
4.
Analyze and identify
Analyze and identify
information needs and
information needs and
educate users of libraries
educate users of libraries
information environments
information environments
5.
5.
Demonstrate technical
Demonstrate technical
expertise of modern
expertise of modern
technology in libraries and
technology in libraries and
information environment
information environment
6.
6.
Conduct, analyze and apply
Conduct, analyze and apply
research methods to
research methods to
investigate acquisitions,
investigate acquisitions,
representation, organization,
representation, organization,
use and / or disseminate of
use and / or disseminate of
information
information
7.
7.
Approach professional issues
Approach professional issues
with an understanding of the
with an understanding of the
social, political, and legal
social, political, and legal
aspects of information
aspects of information
creation, access, and
creation, access, and
ownership
ownership
5.
5.
Demonstrate technical
Demonstrate technical
expertise of modern
expertise of modern
technology in libraries and
technology in libraries and
information environment
information environment
6.
6.
Conduct, analyze and apply
Conduct, analyze and apply
research methods to
research methods to
investigate acquisitions,
investigate acquisitions,
representation, organization,
representation, organization,
use and / or disseminate of
use and / or disseminate of
information
information
7.
7.
Approach professional issues
Approach professional issues
with an understanding of the
with an understanding of the
social, political, and legal
social, political, and legal
aspects of information
aspects of information
creation, access, and
creation, access, and
ownership
We Benchmark Against …..
We Benchmark Against …..
Universities in the US
Universities in the US
and UK rated 5 or 4
and UK rated 5 or 4
+ MLIS programmes
+ MLIS programmes
offered in Australia &
offered in Australia &
New Zealand
New Zealand
(19 universities)
(19 universities)
Universities in the US
Universities in the US
and UK rated 5 or 4
and UK rated 5 or 4
+ MLIS programmes
+ MLIS programmes
offered in Australia &
offered in Australia &
New Zealand
New Zealand
(19 universities)
(19 universities)
UK = University of Sheffield UK = University of Sheffield (5), Loughborough University
(5), Loughborough University
(5), City University (5),
(5), City University (5),
University College London (4),
University College London (4),
University of Strathclyde (4)
University of Strathclyde (4)
USA = University of Illinois, USA = University of Illinois, University of North Carolina,
University of North Carolina,
Syracuse University,
Syracuse University,
University of Pittsburg,
University of Pittsburg,
Indiana University, Drexel
Indiana University, Drexel
University, UCLA
University, UCLA
Australia = Charles Sturt Australia = Charles Sturt University, Curtin University
University, Curtin University
of Technology, Edith Cowan
of Technology, Edith Cowan
University, Queensland
University, Queensland
University of Technology,
University of Technology,
University of South Australia
University of South Australia
New Zealand = Victoria New Zealand = Victoria University, University of
University, University of
Wellington
Wellington
UK = University of Sheffield UK = University of Sheffield
(5), Loughborough University
(5), Loughborough University
(5), City University (5),
(5), City University (5),
University College London (4),
University College London (4),
University of Strathclyde (4)
University of Strathclyde (4) USA = University of Illinois, USA = University of Illinois,
University of North Carolina,
University of North Carolina,
Syracuse University,
Syracuse University,
University of Pittsburg,
University of Pittsburg,
Indiana University, Drexel
Indiana University, Drexel
University, UCLA
University, UCLA
Australia = Charles Sturt Australia = Charles Sturt
University, Curtin University
University, Curtin University
of Technology, Edith Cowan
of Technology, Edith Cowan
University, Queensland
University, Queensland
University of Technology,
University of Technology,
University of South Australia
University of South Australia New Zealand = Victoria New Zealand = Victoria
University, University of
University, University of
Wellington
We Found That …..
We Found That …..
Our Core courses are similar to the core
Our Core courses are similar to the core
course offered at the 19 universities
course offered at the 19 universities
Core Courses
Core Courses
N
N
%
%
Management of information
Management of information
environment
environment
18
18
95
95
Information sources and services
Information sources and services
16
16
84
84
Organization of information
Organization of information
16
16
84
84
Research Methods in LIS
Research Methods in LIS
7
7
37
37
Technologies for information
Technologies for information
management
management
10
10
74
74
We Retain and Add
We Retain and Add
…..
…..
We retain 5 of the core courses out
We retain 5 of the core courses out
of which rename 2, move 1 core
of which rename 2, move 1 core
(
(
Information retrieval
Information retrieval
) to elective
) to elective
Add 1 new core offered by most of
Add 1 new core offered by most of
the 19 universities as a core subject
the 19 universities as a core subject
=
=
Libraries, information and society -
Libraries, information and society -
offered by 14 (74%) of the 19
offered by 14 (74%) of the 19
universities and recommended by
universities and recommended by
February 2006 review
Core : We Changed …..
Core : We Changed …..
Current
Current
Proposed
Proposed
Management of
Management of
information environment
information environment
Management of
information services
Management of
information services
*
*
Information sources and
Information sources and
services
services
Information sources and
services
Information sources and
services
Organization of
Organization of
information
information
Organization of
information
Organization of
information
Research Methods in LIS
Research Methods in LIS
Research foundations for
Research foundations for
LIS
LIS
*
*
Technologies for
Technologies for
information management
information management
Technologies for
information management
Technologies for
information management
Information retrieval
Information retrieval
»
»
Libraries and society
Libraries and society
+
+
* Rename & reorganise
* Rename & reorganise
+ New
»
Electives
Electives
: We Retain & Add…..
: We Retain & Add…..
We retain 12, remove 6 (all MIT
We retain 12, remove 6 (all MIT
courses), convert 1 core to elective,
courses), convert 1 core to elective,
add 12 new courses + group
add 12 new courses + group
electives into tracks
electives into tracks
Justification : The 19 universities
Justification : The 19 universities
offer specialization tracks but retains
offer specialization tracks but retains
modularity by allowing students to
modularity by allowing students to
choose subjects from any track if
choose subjects from any track if
they so wish
Electives
Electives
Retained Removed
Retained Removed
Legal issues in information
Legal issues in information
science
science
Human aspects of information
Human aspects of information
systems design
systems design
User needs and behaviour
User needs and behaviour
Development of information
Development of information
collection
collection
Indexing, abstracting and
Indexing, abstracting and
thesaurus construction
thesaurus construction
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Special topics in LIS
Special topics in LIS
Directed individual study
Directed individual study
Practicum in Library &
Practicum in Library &
information services
information services
Management of Internet
Management of Internet
resources resources Digital libraries Digital libraries Dissertations Dissertations
Legal issues in information
Legal issues in information
science
science
Human aspects of information
Human aspects of information
systems design
systems design
User needs and behaviour
User needs and behaviour
Development of information
Development of information
collection
collection
Indexing, abstracting and
Indexing, abstracting and
thesaurus construction
thesaurus construction
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Special topics in LIS
Special topics in LIS
Directed individual study
Directed individual study
Practicum in Library &
Practicum in Library &
information services
information services
Management of Internet
Management of Internet
resources resources Digital libraries Digital libraries Dissertations Dissertations Information systems, Information systems, fundamentals, procurement fundamentals, procurement
and operational issues
and operational issues
Visual programming: concepts
Visual programming: concepts
and application and application Information systems Information systems management management Knowledge management Knowledge management Multimedia system Multimedia system development development
Enterprise reengineering and
Enterprise reengineering and
restructuring
restructuring
All these are MIT courses
All these are MIT courses
which had previously
which had previously
contributed to the IT
contributed to the IT
related options for the
related options for the
MLIS programme
MLIS programme
Information systems, Information systems, fundamentals, procurement fundamentals, procurementand operational issues
and operational issues
Visual programming: concepts
Visual programming: concepts
and application and application Information systems Information systems management management Knowledge management Knowledge management Multimedia system Multimedia system development development
Enterprise reengineering and
Enterprise reengineering and
restructuring
restructuring
All these are MIT courses
All these are MIT courses
which had previously
which had previously
contributed to the IT
contributed to the IT
related options for the
related options for the
MLIS programme
Electives
Electives
Retained Added
Retained Added
Legal issues in information
Legal issues in information
science
science
Human aspects of information
Human aspects of information
systems design
systems design
User needs and behaviour
User needs and behaviour
Development of information
Development of information
collection
collection
Indexing, abstracting and
Indexing, abstracting and
thesaurus construction
thesaurus construction
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Special topics in LIS
Special topics in LIS
Directed individual study
Directed individual study
Practicum in Library &
Practicum in Library &
information services
information services
Management of Internet
Management of Internet
resources resources Digital libraries Digital libraries Dissertations Dissertations
Legal issues in information
Legal issues in information
science
science
Human aspects of information
Human aspects of information
systems design
systems design
User needs and behaviour
User needs and behaviour
Development of information
Development of information
collection
collection
Indexing, abstracting and
Indexing, abstracting and
thesaurus construction
thesaurus construction
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Special topics in LIS
Special topics in LIS
Directed individual study
Directed individual study
Practicum in Library &
Practicum in Library &
information services
information services
Management of Internet
Management of Internet
resources resources Digital libraries Digital libraries Dissertations Dissertations
Malaysiana information resources Malaysiana information resources Knowledge management for
Knowledge management for information professionals information professionals User education User education Information entrepreneurship Information entrepreneurship Web publishing Web publishing
System analysis and design for System analysis and design for information professionals
information professionals Information retrieval
Information retrieval
Statistical methods for LIS Statistical methods for LIS Qualitative research for LIS Qualitative research for LIS Project paper
Project paper
Resources and services for Resources and services for children and youn adults children and youn adults Educational roles of teacher Educational roles of teacher libarians
libarians
Information literacy Information literacy IT for school libraries IT for school libraries
Malaysiana information resources
Malaysiana information resources
Knowledge management for
Knowledge management for
information professionals information professionals User education User education Information entrepreneurship Information entrepreneurship Web publishing Web publishing
System analysis and design for
System analysis and design for
information professionals
information professionals
Information retrieval
Information retrieval
Statistical methods for LIS
Statistical methods for LIS
Qualitative research for LIS
Qualitative research for LIS
Project paper
Project paper
Resources and services for
Resources and services for
children and youn adults
children and youn adults
Educational roles of teacher
Educational roles of teacher
libarians
libarians
Information literacy
Information literacy
IT for school libraries
Regroup Electives into 5 Tracks
Regroup Electives into 5 Tracks
Information Resources & Services
Information Science & Technology Track
Research Track School Resource Center
Management Track
Legal issues in information science
Malaysiana information resources
Development of information collection
Knowledge management for information
professionals
Indexing, abstracting and thesaurus construction User education
Information entrepreneurship
User needs and behaviour
Human aspects of information systems design
Electronic publishing Management of internet resources
Digital libraries
System analysis and design for information professionals
Information retrieval
Statistical methods in LIS Qualitative research for LIS
Directed individual study Project paper
Dissertation
Resources & services for children and young adults Educational roles of teacher librarians
Information literacy IT for school libraries
Big Picture
Big Picture
Management of
information services Management
of
information services
Information sources
and services
Organization of
information
Research foundation
in LIS
Technologies for
information management
Libraries, information
and society
Track 1
Track 1
Track 2
Track 2
Track 3
Track 3
Track 4
Track 4
Information
Information
resources &
resources &
Services
Services
Information
Information
science and
science and
technology
technology
Research
Research
School
School
resource
resource
center
center
management
management
Track 5 : Special topic I / Special topic II / Practicum
Core
Core
Our Rationale …..
Our Rationale …..
Balance between core library science and IT and
Balance between core library science and IT and
information science courses
information science courses
Include school library track to meet the needs of
Include school library track to meet the needs of
MOE – they send their teachers to us
MOE – they send their teachers to us
To maintain our strength in academic research -
To maintain our strength in academic research -
obtained substantial funding for research and
obtained substantial funding for research and
about 20 PhD candidates for LIS
about 20 PhD candidates for LIS
•
MyAIS (Malaysian abstracting and indexing services)
MyAIS (Malaysian abstracting and indexing services)
•
CREMM (Collaborative repository of Malay manuscripts)
CREMM (Collaborative repository of Malay manuscripts)
•
MyUNILITT (Malaysian univeristies information literacy
MyUNILITT (Malaysian univeristies information literacy
instructional teaching tool)
instructional teaching tool)
•
COREDEV (Collaborative repository digital library –
COREDEV (Collaborative repository digital library –
history, science and mathematics)
history, science and mathematics)
What Happened Next …
What Happened Next …
Presented at a WORKSHOP ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY
Presented at a WORKSHOP ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY
OF THE LIS PROGRAMME on 10 April 2007 to stakeholders
OF THE LIS PROGRAMME on 10 April 2007 to stakeholders
To review the revised curriculum of the MLIS program
To review the revised curriculum of the MLIS program
To ensure the revision meets the needs of industry and
To ensure the revision meets the needs of industry and
stakeholders
stakeholders
To ensure the revision meets the needs of the university’s
To ensure the revision meets the needs of the university’s
academic standard
academic standard
Recommendations made at the forum reflected the
Recommendations made at the forum reflected the
emerging trends of the LIS profession
emerging trends of the LIS profession
No recent reports on emerging trends of the profession or
No recent reports on emerging trends of the profession or
the emerging role of the professionals – the Malaysian
the emerging role of the professionals – the Malaysian
Recommendations Which May Reflect
Recommendations Which May Reflect
Emerging Trends in LIS in Malaysia
Emerging Trends in LIS in Malaysia
Incorporation of more
Incorporation of more
ICT-based literacy
ICT-based literacy
Knowledge management
Knowledge management
to be made a core course –
to be made a core course –
emerging field in Malaysia
emerging field in Malaysia
Content of Organization of information – to include
Content of Organization of information – to include
metadata
metadata
and
and
organization of non-structured
organization of non-structured
information
information
Content of management of information services – to
Content of management of information services – to
include
include
marketing
marketing
To introduce a course related to
To introduce a course related to
acquisition and
acquisition and
collection development
collection development
as a core
as a core
To include a course on
To include a course on
preservation and
preservation and
conservation
conservation
of resources and disaster planning
of resources and disaster planning
as an elective
as an elective
