Affiliations: Department of Library and Information Science, University of Zululand, Private Bag X1001, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa. Fax: +27 0359026082; E-mail: [email protected]
Note: [1] This paper is a revision of a paper delivered at the Canadian Association of Information Science (CIAS) Conference on “The Dimension of Global Information Science” in Edmonton, Canada, 28–30 May 2000 (see hyperlink: http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/cais2000/ocholla.htm). The University of Zululand, South Africa, is acknowledged by the writer for offering financial support to participate at the conference.
Abstract: A follow-up study and newspaper scanning techniques are used to collect data to review and revise the Library and Information Science (LIS) curriculum at the University of Zululand, South Africa. Firstly, as an exercise in product analysis, a case study of the graduates of the University of Zululand between 1996 and 1997 was conducted. Graduates were traced to their current places of employment and interviewed together with their employers in order to determine whether the knowledge, skills and attitudes gained during training were adequate for their current job requirements. Secondly, a market-type analysis was conducted by scanning job advertisements in the LIS field appearing in a popular national weekly newspaper over a period of three years. Details regarding date and location of advertisement, type of employer, job details and job specifications and requirements in terms of qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and attitudes were captured from this source and analysed. The public sector, and in particular public and academic libraries, dominate this segment of the employment market in South Africa. A sound education in management, information and communication technologies, searching and retrieval, and information analysis and synthesis, as well as the ability to perform practical work, are regarded as essential. The paper addresses theoretical and methodological issues in LIS education and curriculum development.
