Studies for Information Professionals The University of Hong

Studies for Information Professionals The University of Hong Kong Faculty of Education Division of Information & Technology Studies Dr. Sam Chu

WHY studying information management? • Information is the new currency • The information sector is the fastest growing sector • "An enterprise with 1, 000 knowledge workers wastes $2. 5 million per year due to an inability to locate and retrieve information. " – (Feldman & Sherman, 2003)

Why HKU? • The University of Hong Kong is one of the world’s top universities and has been the leader in this field for over a decade • HKU ranked 33 th among the top 200 universities in the world in 2006 Source: Times Higher Education Supplement

The FAQ Why the Faculty of Education?

The answer • Ask any librarian…He or she will tell you that all librarians educate. • From user education to lifelong learning to information literacy. • Educators are knowledge and information workers. – Who work in rapidly changing, technology rich environments. • And at HKU, you’ll meet some of the best!

The FAQ Why the Division of Information &Technology Studies?

The benefits • Teaching staff with years of teaching and practitioner experience in the areas of – Information studies • Library and information management – Technology studies • IT in education • Both local and world-wide

Programs offered MSc[LIM] MSc[ITE] • Full time/ Part Time Programs BSc[IM] • Full Time (Top Up) Program • It is a UGC funded add on to the Associate Degree and Higher Diploma programs

MSc[LIM] • Graduates in any field • Qualified information professionals looking to improve their knowledge base

MSc[LIM] – Admission Requirements & fees • Hold a Bachelor’s Degree or qualifications and experience of equivalent standard • May be required to sit for a qualifying examination • Fees Composition fee (2007) HK$90, 000 (total 8 modules) Payment: deposit of $22, 500 for first 2 modules and then $11, 250 per module

Aims Designed to prepare people to • be ‘informed, reflective practitioners’ in the information age • develop information leadership capacities that can be used in a wide variety of environments both profit and not-forprofit: traditional library settings, education settings, business settings, and as consultants

What makes the MSc[LIM] so special? • First such award offered by a Hong Kong university. • A program tailored to the unique needs of Hong Kong. • The MSc[LIM] acts both as a first qualification and as an advanced qualification depending on entry knowledge.

Mode of study The program · extends over one academic year of fulltime study or two, but no more than four years of part-time study. · has a flexible modular structure allowing students to complete the degree according to their own pace. · is conducted in a face-to-face mode, supplemented by flexible online delivery.

Course structure: Students complete Eight modules Coursework option: Dissertation option: 3 core modules Or 2 electives and 5 elective modules 3 dissertation modules Each module consists of 24 -30 contact hours or equivalent. The MSc[LIM] involves a minimum of 300 hours of prescribed work.

Course structure: Choosing coursework or dissertation • Those who have no background in LIM are encouraged to choose the coursework option. • Those who already hold a LIM qualification are encouraged to consider the dissertation option.

Curriculum: Core Modules • Library & information science foundation • Information behaviour • Methods of research and enquiry

Curriculum: Electives (select 2 or 5 elective modules) Depending on coursework or dissertation option Electives are offered based on demand

Electives include… • Information resources and services • Information retrieval theory and practice • Collection management • Information policy • Organising information • Knowledge management fundamentals

Electives, continued • • Literature for young people in a digital age Digital libraries: principles & applications Records management User-based systems analysis Leading & managing in the workplace Professional development & change Managing information technology in schools

Selected Students’ Comments on one of the courses: • "Although we take quite a long time to finish the group assignment and the individual assignment, we did learn much through the practical work. " • "An excellent project for us to apply skills and knowledge learned. "

Double Masters • MSc[LIM] + MSc[ITE] • A Total of 13 modules

Advanced Standing • Will be given for previous study – if previous study was at the postgraduate level – with up to 3 modules credit is possible

Visit us on the Web http: //lim. cite. hku. hk/

Applications due by MSc[LIM] January Term 31 October 2007 September Term Limited spaces are still available

Intake Since the MSc[LIM] program was launched in September 2004, more than 150 people, from a broad range of backgrounds (e. g. , teachers, school administrators, librarians and IT officers etc. ), have joined the program.

Students’ Comments on MSc[LIM] -1 • “I do think that the MSc[LIM] is very useful to the school librarians. The content is insightful and the lecturers are very helpful. I do enjoy studying the course and I have recommended this course to other school librarians. I have learned some current information and some practical experience on librarianship. I do apply some of theory to my work and I try to reflect and improve the management of my library. ”

Students’ Comments on MSc[LIM] -2 • “I think that the program is very good in terms of the breadth and depth of the knowledge provided in the field of Library and information management. I have worked in Library for 9 years. I think the knowledge covered in different modules are current and updated such as web 2. 0, social bookmarking and library visits analysis. The modules are very practical too! There a lot of different diverse elective modules in the programme. I recommend you to take this programme if you are interested in the field of Library and Information Management. ”

BSc[IM] • Candidates holding a recognized Higher Diploma, Professional Diploma or Associate Degree in any discipline are eligible • HKU students may take it as a minor

BSc[IM] Programme Structure • Candidates are required to complete courses totaling 120 credits in 2 years • 6 credits in Language Enhancement courses • 90 credits in Core Courses • 12 credits in Professional Experience • 6 credits in Broadening Courses • 6 credits in a Project

Core Courses (6 credits each) Examples: • Information Retrieval • Records Management • Database Systems & Information Warehousing • Knowledge Management Cases in Asia • Networks & Telecommunications • Digital Libraries: Principles & Applications • Information Society Issues

PE Host Organizations • The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts • The Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong • Hong Kong Productivity Council • Hong Kong Police Force • Hutchison Global Communications • Scout Association of Hong Kong • Tsing Hua University, Beijing • UNESCO, Thailand • Miramar Hotel & Investment Co. Ltd. • Civil Service Bureau • ESRI China (Hong Kong) Ltd. • Hospital Authority (K. M. Unit) • Longman Hong Kong Education

Students’ comments on PE • Student 1 “My Dream comes true To work in The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Library is my dream! Cannot think of other better places that I want to gain my professional experience!” • Student 2 “Day 6 – First weekend in Bangkok Everyday here is so exciting. Even today is a holiday, still, it is full of excitements to me. I think the decision of coming here is correct, because I know I can only survive in an environment that is full of adventure like here, where I can experience so much with different things that I haven’t seen or even thought about before!”

BSc[IM] students in the news

BSc[IM] student with the former Police Chief

BSIM 4999 Project • “An Evaluation of Two Open Source Digital Library Software Systems” ED-MEDIA 2007 World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications, 2007. (Canada) • “Butterflies in amber: Online data structure design & digitization of the Contemporary Chinese Orchestral Collection at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. ” International Association of Music Libraries, Archives & Documentation Centres Annual Conference, 2007. (Australia)

BSIM 4999 Project • “Knowledge workers' awareness & their use of key knowledge resources - in Hong Kong & Singapore. ” 7 th International Conference on Knowledge, Culture & Change in Organizations, 2007. (Singapore) • “White knight or white elephant? The impact of online database on an international school library in Hong Kong” International Association of School Librarianship Annual Conference, 2007. (Taiwan) • “Designing a digital library for the Wan Chai District Council. ” IT in Education Symposium, 2007. (HK)