Measurement of generic core competencies among students of library and information science in Iran
| Pages | 1016-1030 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-08-2013-0153 |
| Published date | 02 November 2015 |
| Date | 02 November 2015 |
| Author | Ehsan Geraei,Gholamreza Heidari |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Information & communications technology,Internet |
Measurement of generic core
competencies among students of
library and information science
in Iran
Ehsan Geraei and Gholamreza Heidari
Department of Knowledge and Information Science,
Shahid Chamran University, Ahwaz, Iran
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of the present survey is to identify and measure generic core competencies
essential for Iranian library and information science (LIS) students.
Design/methodology/approach – The study population included all undergraduate LIS students in
Iran, and the sample included all undergraduate LIS students in the three universities of Tehran, Shahid
Chamran and Ferdowsi of Mashhad. The study was performed during the second semester (February
to May) of the 2010-2011 academic year. After a thorough review of the literature, a pattern for generic
core competencies was formulated and, accordingly, a researcher-designed questionnaire was
developed and distributed. The nal data analysis was carried out using 207 completed questionnaires,
and the data were analysed using the SPSS19 software.
Findings – Except for English and management, the major participants’ scores mean for the 12
identied generic core competencies were higher than the total mean.
Originality/value – Besides presenting a new theoretical pattern for measuring core generic
competencies, especially for students in the LIS eld, the study is expected to help higher education
planners to channel their efforts into strengthening the examined competencies.
Keywords Iran, Undergraduate students, Library and information science,
Competency-based education, Generic core competencies
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The desire for scientic development and discovery of new spheres of science and
knowledge in accord with the technologic evolutions during the past few decades has
caused a lot of changes in the teaching of the library and information science (LIS)
discipline in Iran. Various decisions and efforts have been made on the necessity of
revising and synchronizing LIS content that have even extended to changing the name
of the discipline (Fattahi, 2000;Fattahi et al., 2012;Heidari, 2009;Ghayouri, 2010).
Current continuing efforts enhancing the discipline’s programs seem to refer to the
existing shortcomings and missing parts, rather than being optimistically based on the
future fundamental needs or even on a dynamic methodological framework. Many LIS
professionals believe that critics mostly pursue their personal interests on domination of
a type of anti-technology approach.
Despite the variety of approaches and adopted systems in education in the LIS eld,
only a few research studies have examined the theoretical bases for LIS education
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
EL
33,6
1016
Received 27 August 2013
Revised 2 February 2014
11 May 2014
27 July 2014
7 September 2014
23 September 2014
Accepted 30 September 2014
TheElectronic Library
Vol.33 No. 6, 2015
pp.1016-1030
©Emerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/EL-08-2013-0153
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