Information Science Department Research Articles

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in South Africa's Higher Education System: A Qualitative Study

Artificial intelligence (AI) presents opportunities in transforming higher education system and contribute significantly to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study seeks to leverage AI technologies to advance SDGs within South Africa’s higher education system. It examines AI technology adoption in South African higher education institutions and challenges, strategies, and potential future directions. This qualitative research employed the constructivist principle to unravel the dynamics of AI in advancing SDGs in South Africa. Lecturers from the Department of Information Sciences were the participants of the study. The participants were purposefully selected based on their experience and knowledge of AI technologies. In-depth interview and focused group discussion was employed to generate and estimate responses using thematic content analysis. The result revealed that participants used AI technology to increase students' learning and engagement so students would not doze in class. It was discovered that AI technology has increased the chances for collective learning. The study further proved that AI technology can improve personalized learning experiences of students with diverse learning styles and abilities. This has led to a more inclusive and interactive classroom environment where students feel more motivated and supported in their learning journey. Integrating AI technology into education has shown promising results in improving student outcomes and fostering a more collaborative learning atmosphere. Based on the results, it implies that harnessing AI would advance SDGs in South Africa’s higher education institutions. As such, we recommended that the South African government should formulate comprehensive national AI education policy guidelines for higher education to regulate and harmonize the usage of AI in the higher education system.

Citation Analysis of Library and Information Science Undergraduates’ Projects in Kwara State University, Malete (2013-2018)

Citation analysis of Library and Information Science undergraduates’ research projects in Kwara State University, Malete (2013-2018). The population of the study consists of all the submitted undergraduates’ projects to the Department of Library and Information Science, Kwara State University, Malete from 2013-2018. From this population, a total of thirty-seven (37) final-year students’ projects of the Department were selected as the sample size of the study using the systematic sampling technique. Coding sheet was used to collect data. The frequency counts and simple percentages were used for the statistical analysis. The findings revealed that more than half of the citations in the projects were journal articles, one-third of the citations were conference papers, few of the citations were recent, there were no citations without author, and the highest number is seventy-seven (77) while the lowest citation in a project is eighteen (18). The following recommendations were made based on the findings. Final year students should be encouraged to consider more recent research for their projects, students should be advised cautioned against low citation as eighteen (18) in a research project, the university library should consider the acquisition and subscription to journals so as to aid the research of the students.

New challenges and opportunities for IT companies and (L)IS departments in managing student internships in the time of crisis

This paper discusses the organization of students’ internship in new circumstances caused by COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of the research is on the IT companies in eastern part of Croatia and their perspective on how they managed students’ internship during and after the lockdown. Some of these IT companies successfully cooperate with the Department of Information Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Osijek. Since 2015 the Department enrolls students in graduate study of Information Technology track. From that time students used to do their internship and later find employment in IT companies in the region. The well based cooperation with local IT companies was interrupted in 2020 by the COVID-19 lockdown and semi-lockdown. In such a situation, teachers and IT companies’ managers have been trying to find out the proper ways in which students could fulfill their tasks via online or hybrid mode. To learn more about the experience from the perspective of IT companies, we interviewed 18 of them. The paper points out the observed advantages and disadvantages as well as suggestions for setting a framework for future internship programs. Employers are thinking about continuing to perform online or hybrid internships, and it is clear to them that one of the answers is well defined and regulated model of internships in the online environment.

Use and Acceptance of Open Educational Resources in Library and Information Science Departments in South African Higher Education Institutions

Technology advancement has caused various changes in education, a phenomenon which demands academics to keep up with these changes. Covid-19 caused multiple educational challenges, as online teaching had to be adopted and implemented quickly. The scarcity of online teaching and learning resources has been one of the major problems in South African education. The establishment of open educational resources (OERs) came with some solutions during the trying times of the pandemic, where direct contact with other people was significantly reduced. OERs are educational materials in the public domain introduced with an open licence, such as digital textbooks, research papers, lecture notes, assignments, tests, projects, audios, videos, and animations. It emerged in this study that library and information science (LIS) departments have some awareness of OER. LIS staff employ OERs in their work. However, LIS students rarely utilise them in their studies. It was discovered that LIS departments experience challenges regarding the awareness of copyright, technological problems, quality assurance, and a lack of understanding OER. It can be concluded, based on the findings, that LIS departments were not fully prepared for the changes (moving to online learning) implemented in response to the pandemic. Thus, the study recommends that there should be improved OER awareness, academic staff training, workshops, adequate ICT infrastructure, and improvement of technical skills to increase the utilisation of these resources in LIS departments. This paper depicts an overview of OER and the involvement and opportunity it holds for library and LIS professionals.

An assessment of entrepreneurial skills of LIS students in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara-State, Nigeria

The study assessed the entrepreneurial skills of LIS students in Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria. The descriptive research survey design was used for this study. The population for the study consisted of 250 HND I and HND II students of Department Of Library and Information Science for 2021/2022 academic session. Purposive sampling technique was used since it is believed that they have completed their mandatory Industrial Training Programme and offered entrepreneurship education course for at least 5 semesters. 250 questionnaires were distributed and 236 questionnaires (representing 94.4%) were returned and found usable. Data from the study were analyzed using mean. Mean was used to answer all the research questions and decision rule for positive (agreed) response was set at mean score of 2.50 and above, while a mean score of below 2.50 set as negative and rejected. The major findings of the study included low level of entrepreneurial skills acquisition by the LIS students; out of the sixteen skills examined, they only agreed to have 4; the major challenges identified were lack of financial support to start a business, high student population among others. It was recommended that the curriculum should be reviewed and practical skills required to function effectively as an entrepreneur after graduation should be included.

COVID-19 Emergency Remote Teaching: Lessons Learned from Five EU Library and Information Science Departments

Abstract Analysis of the context and response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown of five European Library and Information Science Departments: University of Barcelona (Spain), University of Hildesheim (Germany), University of Osijek, University of Zagreb (Croatia), and University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). Data about this situation in relation to higher education were collected 1 year after the lockdown when countries had returned to normality. The methodology consisted of holding focus groups with students and individual interviews with teachers. The data were analysed by unifying the information collected from each country into a centralized dataset and complemented with texts from the transcripts highlighted by each partner. The results indicate that each partner experienced a unique situation; as COVID-19 lockdowns were different in every European country, each university or even each teacher responded to the crisis differently. Nevertheless, there are points that are common to all five universities analysed in the study, such as work overload in students and teachers or the replication of face-to-face teaching models in a remote format. Moving in the future to online or hybrid learning activities will require training teachers in a more systematic way and the appropriate infrastructure.

Exploring the responsiveness and practice of using subscribed journals in Bangladesh

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine subscribed journal usage by postgraduate students at Dhaka University Library. Methodology: The study collected primary data from 62 students enrolled in the thesis group at the postgraduate level in the art faculty. The data was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft software, and the findings were described using frequency tables and data analysis. Findings: The findings reveal that 28.3% respondents were unaware of e-journals, 35% were aware but not using, and 36.7% were aware and using them. The study found that the Department of Information Science & Library Management has a high adoption rate of e-journals. Teachers and thesis supervisors are significant in creating awareness about e-journals among students. Search engines and library websites are the preferred routes for accessing e-journals, while publishers' websites are the least preferred. Searching difficulties and limited assistance are the top reasons, while time constraints and slow downloading have the lowest number of responses. Practical implications: This study sheds light on crucial research implications, such as the need to bridge the gender gap in accessing e-journals, customize support according to academic departments, maximize the roles of educators, streamline access routes, overcome usage obstacles, provide assistance to non-resident students, enhance preferred platforms, resolve technical challenges, and evaluate long-term effects. These insights provide valuable guidance for improving the utilization of e-journals in academic environments.

Scientific and Academic Work of Muhamed Dželilović

This paper presents the scientific and academic work of Muhamed Dželilović, professor at the Department of Comparative Literature and Information Sciences, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Sarajevo. There is a special focus on two of Dželilović's books, Slaveni o Danteu and Kalhasovo proročanstvo, which claimed to establish the framework for all Dželilović's other scientific and academic work. Dželilović's approach to literature implies a complex dialogue with the greatest writers of the world's cultural tradition. At the same time, the most important domestic authors also find their place in that wider context.

Information Awareness among Information Science Female Students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (Field Study)

Purpose: This study aims to provide a realistic and comprehensive view of the information awareness of female students in the Information Science Department at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, to know the level of information skills they possess when they use information.
 
 Method: In a case study design, this study employed a check to gather the opinions of scholars regarding the services handed by the university library, understand their provocations for using the library, and understand the university library’s part in equipping scholars with the necessary information chops.The data analysis was conducted using the statistical program (SPSS) to gain study pointers.
 
 information about the sources from every table/chart/figures: For the study on information mindfulness among Information Science scholars at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (applied study), the experimenters designed and distributed a questionnaire amongst undergraduate Information Science scholars. The number of scholars who responded to the questionnaire was 143 scholars from all situations except the third position, as it represents the first semester for scholars in the Information Science Department.
 
 Results and Conclusion: Results show that most students possess high information skills. It recommends incorporating assignments and duties in the Information Science program curriculum that enable students to optimally use the library, information skills, and how to search for information. This contributes to enhancing the information awareness of students and increasing the efficiency of graduates.
 
 Implications of research: Furthermore, the study emphasizes arranging guidance courses for students on information retrieval to elevate their information awareness and training new students on various information awareness programs to develop their scientific research and computer skills.

Perspectives of Library and Information Science Undergraduate Students on Library User Education and Use of the Library at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

In the study, we examined perspectives of Library and Information Science undergraduate students on library user education and the use of the Donald E.U. Ekong Library at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. Five specific objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study and one hypothesis was formulated. In the study, we adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consisted of 194 students in the Department of Library and Information Science. A sample size of 131 respondents was selected using a simple random sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a self-developed structured questionnaire titled “Library Information Science Undergraduate Students’ Library User Education and Use of Library” and was distributed among the students. The 131 (100%) questionnaires were returned in good shape and analysed using frequency, percentages and mean. The hypothesis was tested using Pearson’s product moment correlation at a 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that library orientation, the lecture method and the library tour were the methods used in teaching user education at the Donald E.U. Ekong library, while the online course was poor. We concluded that user education has a positive influence on these undergraduate students’ library use. Our recommendations included that a conducive environment for, creating awareness on and advocacy of user education and the use of the library be adopted as ways to improve the library user education at the Donald E.U. Ekong Library.

DECODING DIGITAL LEARNING: A CART ANALYSIS INSIGHT

In today's digital era, online education has become an integral component of the global educational system. However, the quality of providers, mastery of online learning media, and the capability of teachers in delivering content significantly influence students' comprehension. Understanding how these factors impact students is crucial for optimizing online educational experiences. This article examines the effect of provider quality, mastery of online learning media, and teacher's capability in teaching on students' understanding in an online learning environment using Classification and Regression Trees (CART). The study focused on the active students of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, totaling 18,104 based on data from PDDIKTI. Due to the vastness of this population, stratified random sampling was employed. The sample size was determined using the Kock and Hadaya method, resulting in a minimum sample of 271. Each sample in the stratum was taken based on the proportion of the population across 19 departments, with the Department of Psychology having the largest sample size of 20 students and the Department of Library and Information Science the smallest with 4 students. The findings revealed that a teacher's capability has a more profound influence on students' understanding than mastery of online learning media, while provider quality showed no significant impact. To enhance the effectiveness of online learning, it's recommended that educational institutions invest in teacher training focused on effective teaching methodologies and technological utilization, and also ensure the selection of online learning platforms that cater to student needs.

Code Adventure: An Educational Game for Learning JAVA Programming

The purpose of this project is to (1) develop an educational game for learning in a JAVA programming course for undergraduate students, (2) compare the learning achievements of educational games and lectures, and (3) assess learner game acceptance with learning through games. The sample used in this research were 50 first-year undergraduate students in the field of management information systems from the Department of Information Science, S University in Thailand. In game design and development, The researcher developed the game based on the concept of game flow elements, such as challenges, story, fun, beauty, and so on, in order to inspire learners to be engaged in learning through games. The tools used in the research were (1) educational game performance evaluation forms, (2) an educational game for learning JAVA programming concepts, (3) a learning achievement test, and (4) student satisfaction assessment forms. The research results showed that (1) the learning efficiency of the educational game was very good, (2) the academic achievement of learning by the educational game was higher than that of learning by lecture, and (3) the acceptance of learning with computer games by the students was excellent. Additionally, learning through games made it easier for students to absorb the subject and learn more effectively. It has been discovered that learning through games improves learning results for students.

Integrating Internet of Things (IoT) into Library and Information Science (LIS) School's Curriculum in Selected Universities in Nigeria

This study examined incorporating the Internet of Things (IoT) into the LIS curriculum in selected LIS schools in Southwest Nigeria. The study population comprised final students from the LIS degree program in South-west Nigeria's library and information science department. A total enumeration of respondents was used for the research. Data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings revealed that the significant technology-related courses in the curriculum of LIS are basic computer operations, web publishing, document management and computer in libraries. Undergraduates positively perceived LIS curriculum preparedness for the Internet of Things (IoT). The major problems affecting the full implementation of technology-based related courses of the LIS curriculum in selected LIS schools are a shortage of funds, lack of infrastructure, unreliable power supply, inadequate learning resources and library support. The paper recommended that the Nigerian government come forward through her agents to provide financial help to integrate the Internet of Things (IoT) into LIS schools and develop essential infrastructures that will enhance the hands-on experience for the students.LIS curriculum

Research collaboration among library and information science professionals in Nigerian universities

PurposeThe necessity for continuous advancement in library education and practice requires research collaboration among library professionals. This study aims to investigate research collaboration among lecturers in the department of library and information science (LIS) and librarians in university libraries in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The quantitative study employed a close-ended questionnaire for data collection. The study covered all the librarians in academic libraries and lecturers in the department of LIS (LIS professionals) in public universities in Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The criterion mean of 2.50–2.99 was used for the research questions.FindingsIt was found that librarians in academic libraries and lecturers in Nigeria rarely engage in research collaboration. The reasons for the research collaboration are to increase the quality of research in the library profession, make research in the library profession more in-depth and cross-fertilize ideas for generating novel insights.Practical implicationsIt is the engagement of librarians in academic libraries and the lecturers in the LIS department in the exchange of knowledge at national and international levels through research collaboration that can enhance the quality of research that emanates from the library profession.Social implicationsPromotion of the library profession requires the integrated effort of library professionals in academic libraries and lecturers in the department of LIS through research collaboration.Originality/valuePromotion of the library profession requires the integrated effort of library professionals in academic libraries and lecturers in the department of LIS through research collaboration.

Library and information science study program through the eyes of students: Preliminary findings

Library and information science (LIS) as a discipline is constantly changing in line with the trends of the profession, so in order to ensure that LIS curriculum in higher education addresses the needs of contemporary stakeholders, evidence-based evaluation is needed. Student satisfaction has become an important factor in considering the success of the institution of higher education. The studies on student motivation for enrolling in LIS programs are many, but papers on student perception of satisfaction with their LIS study programs are rarer. This paper focuses on the efforts of ensuring curriculum quality of the LIS program at the graduate level of study at the Department of Information Sciences of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Osijek, Croatia. The main aim of the study was to determine how satisfied the students are with the quality of their study program and to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The study was carried out by anonymous online survey in which the students were asked to rate their satisfaction with the study program and the obtained professional and lifelong learning competences. While findings of the study are relevant for the revision of the LIS study program at the Osijek Department, this study can also have larger implications for LIS education trends globally, for it has confirmed some of the results from international studies.

Impact of E-Learning Orientation, Moodle Usage, and Learning Planning on Learning Outcomes in On-Demand Lectures

The growing prominence of e-learning in education has led to the need for a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing learning outcomes. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of e-learning orientation, Moodle usage, and learning planning on learning outcomes in the context of on-demand lectures. A sample of participants from the Department of Information Science and Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering completed questionnaires related to e-learning orientation, while Moodle usage data and learning planning information were collected. Correlation, principal component, cluster, and multiple regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationships between variables and their impact on learning outcomes. The results suggest that e-learning orientation did not exert a significant influence on learning outcomes. However, Moodle usage and learning planning emerged as crucial factors. Increased engagement with Moodle, as indicated by higher clicks and utilization of its learning functionalities, was associated with improved learning outcomes. Additionally, effective learning planning, characterized by adherence to schedules and timely submissions, positively influenced learning outcomes. The results emphasize the importance of considering multiple factors, not just a single factor, for successful online learning. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing learning outcomes in on-demand lectures.

Practice of Infopreneurship by Librarians in Public University Libraries in South-South Nigeria

Objective – The aim of this study was to examine the practice of infopreneurship by librarians in public university libraries in South-South Nigeria. The study specifically intended to identify purposes of engaging in infopreneurship, methods of running infopreneurship, forms of infopreneurship practiced, benefits derived from practicing infopreneurship, and challenges encountered in practicing infopreneurship by the librarians. Methods – The population of the study comprised all 175 librarians in 13 public university libraries in South-South Nigeria, which were purposively chosen for the study. The study employed convenience sampling to engage 102 librarians in the university libraries, who were involved in one form of infopreneurship or another. The librarians were identified through preliminary investigation, observation, and interaction with the librarians by the researchers. The instrument for data collection was a self-designed online questionnaire titled, “Librarians’ Infopreneurship Practice Questionnaire (LIPQ).” The instrument was validated by two experts in the Department of Library and Information Science in Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Reliability test was not conducted on the instrument, based on the knowledge that a valid test tends to be reliable. The researchers distributed 128 digital copies of the draft of the validated questionnaire to the librarians through personal WhatsApp accounts of the librarians, WhatsApp groups of the various university libraries and WhatsApp groups of the different state chapters of the Nigerian Library Association to which the librarians belonged. Out of the 128 questionnaires administered, 102 were properly completed by the librarians and returned, producing a response rate of 97.69%. The data collected were analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation. Results – The results from data analysis revealed that the librarians’ purposes of engaging in infopreneurship were to earn extra income, provide for post-retirement, meet unforeseen demands, and develop themselves. The librarians’ methods of running infopreneurship were leveraging, customizing, facilitating access to, and providing instant delivery of information. They used the following forms of infopreneurship: information brokerage, reprographic services, research-aid services, book vending and internet services. Finally, challenges faced by the librarians in practicing infopreneurship were lack of adequate finance, business infrastructure, technical skill, and high rate of presence of non-professional infopreneurs. Conclusion – The findings in this study demonstrate that librarians under study practice infopreneurship primarily for purposes of making money and self-sustenance. They achieve this by leveraging, customizing, facilitating access to and providing quick delivery of information. With these methods, the librarians engage in information brokerage, reprographic services, internet services, research-aid services and book vending. In return, these information professionals enjoy additional income, financial independence, accumulated knowledge, and enhanced sense of fulfillment. However, the practice of infopreneurship by the librarians is hindered by shortage of sufficient funds, technical know-how, business facilities and high rate of presence of unprofessional infopreneurs in the business.

An Evaluation of Digital Information Literacy Skills among Undergraduate Students of Library and Information Science in Universities in Nigeria

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the digital information literacy skills among Library and Information Science (LIS) students in universities in Nigeria. The study adopted a survey research method, and a questionnaire was used to collect data from 279 final-year undergraduate students of Library and Information Science departments in six federal universities offering LIS in Nigeria. The study found that the final-year students of Library and Information Science trust their information search proficiency on the internet. The LIS students are aware of some information resources and not aware of others such as electronic theses and dissertations, e-reference books and e-books. The study revealed that the students frequently used online information resources such as online newspapers, online journal articles, online databases, and internet information. The majority of the students indicated that they do not trust and use information they find on the internet for their academic assignments. To search for information for academic assignments, the students try to use different subject terms on Boolean operators. The study discovered that students preferred digital sources of information, but still used the library to retrieve needed information. It also emerged that the students evaluate information resources by checking for currency, and the author’s name and expertise. The findings of the study may be critical for designing information systems that fit the information needs of students and support information management in developing countries. This could help educators in universities improve the learning experiences of their students and improve their competitiveness in the job market. Digital information literacy skills must become an integral part of higher education curricula in developing countries. Therefore, the study recommends that all students in universities need to take courses on digital information literacy irrespective of their field of study.

Exploring the level of digital citizenship awareness among female students in the information science department at Umm Al-Qura University

This study tried to unveil the female students’ awareness level in the department of information technology, Umm Al Qura University, Saudi Arabia with the criteria of digital citizenship under the digital revolution in the world today. The digital transformation has a great effect on how persons would deal with the digital data and information. The study depended on the descriptive analytical methodology, because the nature of this methodology is suitable for the subject of the study from the beginning of data collection, that are required to the study, analyzing and interpreting data, to the results phase, that contributes in achieving the goals of this study. Current results pointed out that the total level of female students’ awareness level with the nine criteria of digital citizenship was medium with an average of 139.3 degree. The total values of the nine criteria from the lowest to the highest value ranges from 149 to 237 degree. In some criteria, the female students’ awareness level was high, but in other criteria, this level was medium. The students’ awareness level was raised with the following criteria: “digital access to the information sources”, “educational services”, “electronic market”, “digital communication”, “digital etiquette”, “digital laws”, “digital rights and responsibilities”, and “digital security”. On the other hand, female the students’ awareness level was medium with two creating the criterion of “promotion of digital culture” and the criterion of “digital health and safety”. Among the most important recommendations of this study is the enlightenment of society with the digital revolution, and the dissemination of a culture of digital citizenship among Members of the Society, in addition to putting forward a plan at the level of Saudi universities to teach the “digital citizenship” curriculum.

Using WhatsApp as a medium of postgraduate instruction in a private university in Nigeria: fall-outs of the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a global lockdown and the cessation of all academic activities on-site. Higher education in Nigeria was not exempt, as a paradigm shift was required for university officials to explore non-conventional teaching methods to prevent students from wasting time and to keep them intellectually engaged. During the pandemic, our research examines how a private institution in Ede, Osun State, Nigeria, utilised the social networking platform WhatsApp for Ph.D. student seminars. The study obtained data from ten doctoral students in the Department of Library and Information Science at Adeleke University via online interviews. The difficulties faced by the students and the benefits of utilising ICT were highlighted. Due to the constant insecurity and poor road network in Nig eria, as well as the risk of long-distance travel, especially for postgraduate students who are not always resident on campus, we recommend the continued use of E-learning platforms in Higher Education Institutions as a solution to reducing transportation costs.