   
Education and Training
Section
Strategic Plan
2004-2005
Mission
The section on education and training has as an ultimate mission to improve Library and Information Science education and to strengthen the link between the basic education and continuing education or continuing professional development for librarians and paraprofessionals.
It is important to work towards profiling the profession in relation to both the educational systems in different countries and the professional bodies and stakeholders.
It is especially important to focus on the educational situation in developing countries.
Education and Training Section will support the Presidential Theme 2003-2005 "Libraries for Lifelong Literacy" and its goal will be facilitating development of appropriate information literacy curricula.
As education and training are relevant for all of IFLA's divisions and sections, in supporting the Presidential theme, SET will actively cooperate with any of these. The section will act as an advising body in relation to other sections in IFLA in all matters concerned with educational questions and in relation to the development process.
Goals
1. Foster international cooperation on basic and continuing education of library and information science (LIS) educators and practitioners.
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
1.1 Organise a Programme at Buenos Aires Conference 2004 on "The International Dialogue on the Education of Library and Information Professionals"
1.2 Continue the work on the History of the Section
1.3 Take action to establish a high degree of participation and work delegation among all elected members of the Section (Goal 1)
See also under 2, 6 & 9
2. Uphold and strengthen the academic and professional status of LIS - staff through internationally recognised qualifications for LIS - positions.
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
2.1 Revise guidelines for LIS Educational Programmes in the light of literary agenda
3. Maintain a current directory of world-wide LIS educational programmes, including continuing education.
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
3.1 World Guide: Complete the project that ends both with a database and with a print publication at the end of 2005, with funds pledged from IFLA, UNESCO and Saur.
3.2 World Guide: Use the questionnaire to mail out to survey quality assurance models in use in LIS programmes.
4. Foster the multicultural principles of IFLA
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
Explore ways to have corresponding members of the section from cultures and countries not represented on the Standing Committee to become more active through more regular communications with the Section (In the past we have not been successful in establishing communications with our corresponding members thus limiting our ability to have as much cultural diversity on SET as might be desired.)
5. Offer professional development opportunities for LIS professionals and education in developing countries
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
See under 7
6. Disseminate information on innovative curriculum development and creative teaching methodologies and materials
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
6.1 Newsletter: Issue a newsletter twice a year in print and electronic format. A special focus will be given to literacy issues.
6.2 Increase the distribution of the newsletter and other information to libraries in more countries by synthesising the most important news and translating the synthesis into other languages.
See also under 9
7. Foster new professional development opportunities in order to encourage new knowledge, skills and competencies
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
7.1 Take action to establish educational co-operation with South American colleagues: as first event by organising a workshop at the Buenos Aires 2004 Conference "The Challenges of Library and Information Science Education in the Developing World"
8. Encourage high quality conference papers through a rigorous refereeing process
(Professional Priorities: (i) Promoting Standards, Guidelines and Best Practices)
Actions
See under 9
9. Foster a process that encompasses both standard educational requirements and continuing education as focus for the work of the section
(Professional Priorities: (h) Developing Library Professionals)
Actions
9.1 Continue with plans for the Oslo conference in 2005, including the organisation of the Open Session "Recruitment, assessment and careers in Library and Information Science Education" and the Workshop "The Nordic tradition in Library and Information Science Education".
9.3 Plan for Seoul conference in 2006 including the organisation of the Programme to be held.
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