Library and Information Science Education and Training and Employability Skills in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The study addresses the question why library and information science education and training programmes are purportedly reproached for not producing industry ready graduates. The population of the study included five deans/ heads of departments (Deans/HODs), forty-seven LIS faculty and 17 LIS practitioners. A census was done for the Deans/HODs and LIS faculty. Seventeen LIS employers were purposively selected. The Deans/HODs and LIS employers were interviewed, and LIS faculty were given a survey questionnaire to complete. The findings suggest that it is not the goal of LIS education and training to produce industry ready graduates but to inculcate a general professional foundation applicable in diverse information environments. The alleged reproach that LIS graduates are inadequately prepared for their roles was attributed to inadequacies in the requisite resources (funding, policy and regulatory frameworks, equipment, human capital, and ICT infrastructure) needed to develop the required skills in graduates. The study recommended that LIS education and training programmes build mutual linkages with practitioners and devise mechanisms and strategies to understand, envision, inform and respond to the changes taking place in the wider community and the LIS field.

Keywords: LIS education, LIS training, Library science, LIS employability skills, Zimbabwe.