Library & Information Science

Programme Description | Courses | Achievements | Staff

Achievements and Future Plans of LIS Department

New-look Curriculum

LIS Department refined its curriculum in September 2008, and has since September 2009 adopted a Multiple Entry-Exit Curriculum. Special assistance in human and financial resources was provided by the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP).

Networking

LIS Department hosted three international guest lecturers since 2008: One from SADC region and two from Europe.

LIS Students' Association

Library and Information Science students have a grouping known as Mzuzu University Library and Information Science Students Association (MULISSA).

The mission of this association is to provide a gateway to the professional world of Librarianship, through interaction with LIS students from within and outside Malawi and to work together with the Mzuzu University Faculty of Information Science and Communications .

Through this association LIS students are engaged in various activities that put them into the context of Librarianship. They conduct presentations, debates and do practicals in Mzuzu University Library as one way of familiarising themselves with the professional world.

Apart from doing practicals LIS students have educational tours. They visit different information centers such as Museums, National Archives, British Council, America Embassy Resource Center, Academic Libraries as well as Public Libraries (National Library and NICE). These educational tours help the students to have an overview of how different information centers serve their clients and satisfy users needs.

Alumni

As of December 2010, LIS Department has seen 104 graduating with qualifications in Library and Information Science over a period of seven years. Thirty-eight (38) graduated with Diploma in Library and Information Science and sixty-six (66) graduated with Bachelor of Library and Information Science.

Recruitment

LIS Department will beef up its staff base by having the following as full-time members of staff in the next five years from 2010:

• One professor in information studies
• One associate professor in information studies
• Two senior lecturer in information studies
• Three lecturers in information studies

Training

LIS Department will encourage its members of staff to go for further studies and training in order to effectively and efficiently handle teaching assignments and carry out research projects.

Postgraduate Studies

LIS Department is planning to offer postgraduate studies in different areas of information studies like library studies, health informatics, and records management.

Publishing

LIS Department has not yet started publishing as a department. However, individual lecturers have done so.

The Department will soon embark on research and publications, and intends to have departmental open days where some of the research and publications will be exhibited.