Information management and educational pluralism

Abstract

For the purposes of constructive and cooperative curriculum development, the Depart­ ment of Librarianship in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) prepared and distributed a paper mapping the area of information studies as a basis for discussion and course development with other Departments and Faculties. While the Faculty sees itself as playing a leading role in the education of information professionals who are able to anticipate, understand, interpret and enhance the commodity of information and the process of informing, the thrust of the paper is that the term 'information' is not 'owned' by anyone group. Definitions and explanations of terms such as 'information', 'information management' and 'information technology' will always be contextual in nature. Courses to meet new and emerging needs should draw on a number of Departments and Faculties, as no one Faculty or Department on its own can offer the range of educational programmes and courses for information professionals with the depth and breadth required.