Experiences of library and information science (LIS) studies accreditation in the context of quality assurance systems in Poland

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Woźniczka-Paruzel, Bronisława

Affiliations: Department of Library and Information Sciences, Nicholas Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland

Abstract: This paper is devoted to the first experience of LIS studies accreditation in Poland. There are 12 academic institutions in Poland where librarians and information specialists are educated. Six of these institutions are undergoing accreditation, which began in February and finished in May 2002. They run 3 kinds of courses: 1. Two-stage studies in library and information sciences (three years BA + two years MA), 2. Library specialisation in other departments (history, philology etc.) which run MA programmes, 3. Post-graduate studies in library and information sciences. The author of the paper first sketches a brief outline of the history of institutions set up in Poland in order to assess the quality of higher education, and then introduces the bases on which they operate. These institutions are: UKA (Uniwersytecka Komisja Akredytacyjna) – University Accreditation Commission established in 1998, and PKA (Państwowa Komisja Akredytacyna) – State Accreditation Commission established in 2002. Against this background she presents the process of LIS studies accreditation in Poland, the main principles of evaluation and the problems that appeared during the accreditation. These separate parts of the paper are all drawn together in the conclusion.

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-2003-21106

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 49-57, 2003