An analysis of the library and information science (LIS) job market in South Africa

Ocholla, Dennis N.; Shongwe, Mzwandile M.

doi:10.7553/79-1-113

Cited by 31 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In this particular research paper, the purposive sampling technique was significant because the researcher wanted to make a reliable generalisation focusing on study guides which dealt with macroeconomics and microeconomics only. A similar strategy was used by Ocholla and Shongwe (2013) who conducted an analytical literature review and the content analysis of recent longitudinal (2009-2012) newspaper scanning of LIS job advertisements to investigate the employability of information studies graduates. This method is also being utilised by other researchers in different disciplines.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Undergraduate Economics Curriculum and Employability Skills in South Africa

Ngulube

2020

PEC

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Graduates with employability skills are considered as assets by employers because they are dynamic and adapt easily to today’s work environment. Thus, higher education globally is under pressure to produce graduates who are employable and able to continue learning and remain employed. This study examined the extent to which the undergraduate economics curriculum in South Africa equips economics graduates with employability skills. This was achieved through a qualitative approach using a content analysis design. Data analysed from advertisements extracted from the Sunday Times for four consecutive years and data from six undergraduate economics study guides indicated that there was a disjuncture between undergraduate economics skills and those required by the industry. The analysed study guides only cover about 29.4 % of the needed skills in the labour market. It is imperative for higher education institutions to produce employable graduates because evidence demonstrates that employers today do not hire employees solely based on academic qualifications. Recommendations are that there should be an alignment between employability skills required in the labour market and those offered by the academic institutions. Curricula and pedagogy should also be adjusted to enhance graduate skills outcomes. Keywords: employability skills, undergraduate curriculum, content analysis

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Undergraduate Economics Curriculum and Employability Skills in South Africa

Ngulube

2020

PEC

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“…Raju (2005) stated that cataloguing and classification are among 25 core areas of the LIS job market in SA. Shongwe and Ocholla (2011) and Ocholla and Shongwe (2013) concurred and stated that the LIS job market actively recruits cataloguers.…”

Section: Cataloguing and Classification In Samentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparison of the cataloguing and classification curriculum and job requirements

Sibiya

Shongwe

2018

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to compare the cataloguing and classification curriculum offered in South African LIS schools and the job market requirement for cataloguers in South Africa (SA). It was instigated by the changes that have occurred in the LIS field over the past decade, especially in cataloguing and classification. Design/methodology/approach An interpretive, qualitative approach was used, and content analysis was used as a research and data analysis method. Data were obtained from 3 sources: cataloguing and classification course outlines obtained from 6 LIS schools, 18 interviews conducted with professional cataloguers and 10 job advertisements obtained through newspaper scanning and from the LIASA listserv. Findings The results indicate that LIS schools teach basic and advanced cataloguing and classification theory and practical topics. The main objective of the courses is to teach students knowledge organisation. The subjects are offered at bachelor’s degree and postgraduate diploma levels. Tools such as AACR2, RDA, MARC21, DDC and LCSH are mainly used to teach the courses. Professional cataloguers and job advertisements indicate that employers require the knowledge and skills to use the above-mentioned tools. Job advertisements also indicate that a national diploma and two years’ work experience are the minimum requirements for employing cataloguers. Practical implications This paper will inform academics whether they are teaching the relevant curriculum. If not, they will have to implement changes or improvements to the current curriculum. It will also help employers get a picture of what is offered in LIS schools and make judgements on whether it is relevant in the job market or not. Originality/value This paper has compared what is offered in LIS schools and what is required in the job market and found that there is match between what is offered and required, although there are areas to be improved. This is the first paper to establish that link in SA.

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“…The two authors probably meant “smart” technologies or AI or super computers as computers have been with us since the mid-20th century. An important study conducted in this decade (Ocholla and Shongwe, 2013) demonstrates a diversification in the employment of LIS graduates, with emerging disciplines/fields, such as information and knowledge management, becoming increasingly attractive while ICT’s influence on LIS jobs burgeoning (Shongwe, 2015).…”

Section: Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Readiness of academic libraries in South Africa to research, teaching and learning support in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Ocholla

2020

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PurposeIn this paper, we refer to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2016, where the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) was coined by Klaus Schwab, with the reference that it would be building on “the Third, the digital revolution” and would be “characterized by a fusion of technologies that is blurring the lines between the physical, digital, and biological spheres”. While acknowledging that the 4IR will impact on everything, everywhere, including research and libraries, we conceptualize 4IR, and we compare current academic library services/trends in South Africa with 4IR requirements, through the analysis of 26 public university library websites.Design/methodology/approachBesides conceptualization of 4IR, a content analysis of websites of 26 public universities’ libraries in South Africa was achieved followed up with verification of the data by respective libraries through a preliminary research report circulated to them by email. 23 areas were identified as the trends in academic libraries, which included free Wi-Fi in the libraries; 24/7 study areas and access to library resources on and off campus; research commons; makerspace; borrowing ICTs (e.g. laptops); e-resources; e-catalogues; research data services (RDS; RDM, IR); open scholarship; information literacy and reference/bibliographic tools, library as a publisher, among others. Data obtained were captured in Excel and analyzed by the research questions.FindingsThe 4IR concept does not occur often in literature, in relation to academic libraries, but it is implied. The findings show that the libraries are responding well to the revolution through their services, with remarkable innovation and creativity on display. There was a 64% presence of the analyzed trends/services in the libraries, with emerging trends/services such as library as a publisher (4%), robotics/AI (4%), makerspace (8%), RDS (27%), borrowing of ICTs/devices (19%) and user experience (19%) scoring low, while information literacy and digital scholarship (e.g. IR) (88%), e-catalogue and e-resources (92%), group study area (85%) and off campus access (77%) scoring above 75%. The scatter of the trends/services among the university libraries is noted for knowledge sharing of best practice.Research limitations/implicationsIn order to improve accordance with trends, academic libraries have to be better resourced, accessed and used, as well as improve web visibility. The study expects library services to be responsive, resourced and accessible anytime and anywhere, and it provides a conceptual framework and a benchmark for further research and exploration in the country, region and perhaps elsewhere.Practical implicationsThe study can be used for benchmarking current and future academic library services in Africa. The conceptual framework provides an agenda for theoretical discussions and deliberations.Social implicationsThe trends, framework and 4IR representations in the study can inform theory and practice in LIS, particularly in Africa.Originality/valueLinking 4IR to current and future library services provides a tool for academic libraries services benchmarking and development and provides a conceptual framework for theoretical and practical debates and implementation. The study is quite current and appropriate for the ongoing discussions of 4IR implications to academic libraries.

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An analysis of the library and information science (LIS) job market in South Africa

Abstract: This paper explores and discusses the library and information science (LIS) job market in South

Cited by 31 publications

References 31 publications

Undergraduate Economics Curriculum and Employability Skills in South Africa

Undergraduate Economics Curriculum and Employability Skills in South Africa

A comparison of the cataloguing and classification curriculum and job requirements

Readiness of academic libraries in South Africa to research, teaching and learning support in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

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