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

Studies for Information Professionals

The University of Hong Kong

Faculty of EducationDivision of Information & Technology Studies

Dr. Sam Chu

WHY studying WHY studying informationinformation management? 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?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 33th among the top 200 universities in the world in 2006

Source: Times Higher Education Supplement

The FAQThe 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 FAQThe 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

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

Programs offered

MSc[LIM]

• Graduates in any field• Qualified information

professionals looking to improve their knowledge base

MSc[LIM] – Admission MSc[LIM] – Admission Requirements Requirements & fees& fees

• Hold a Bachelor’s Degree or qualifications and experience of equivalent standard

• May be required to sit for a qualifying examination

• FeesComposition fee (2007) HK$90,000 (total 8

modules)Payment: deposit of $22,500 for first 2 modules and then $11,250 per module

AimsAims

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-for-profit: traditional library settings, education settings, business settings, and as consultants

What makes the What makes the MSc[LIM] so MSc[LIM] so special?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 full-

time 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: Course structure: Students complete Students complete Eight modulesEight modules

Coursework option:

3 core modules

5 elective modules

Each module consists of 24-30 contact hours or equivalent. The MSc[LIM] involves a minimum of 300 hours of prescribed work.

Dissertation option: 3 core modules 2 electives and 3 dissertation modules

Or

Course structure: 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: Curriculum:

Core Core ModulesModules

• Library & information science foundation

• Information behaviour• Methods of research and enquiry

Curriculum: Curriculum: ElectivesElectives

Electives (select 2 or 5 elective modules)

Depending on coursework

or dissertation option

Electives are offered based on demand

Electives Electives include…include…

• Information resources and services• Information retrieval theory and

practice• Collection management• Information policy• Organising information• Knowledge management

fundamentals

Electives, Electives, continuedcontinued

• 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 MastersDouble Masters

• MSc[LIM] + MSc[ITE]

• A Total of 13 modules

Advanced Advanced StandingStanding

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

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 the 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 are 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

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

BSIM4999 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)

BSIM4999 Project

• “Knowledge workers' awareness & their use of key knowledge resources - in Hong Kong & Singapore.” 7th 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)