LIS as academic discipline,or,

1
LIS as academic discipline,or,

• The Cinderella of Higher Education In South
  Africa?
• By
• Sally Witbooi
• switbooi_at_uwc.ac.za

2
Table of Contents

• What constitutes academic status?
• The responsibilities of an academic
• Survival issues in LIS training
• Conclusion
• Thanks

3
What constitutes academic status?

• The job title
• The job description dual job responsibilities?
• The remuneration
• The fringe benefits
• Relative rating with other disciplines? soft
  versus hard sciences.

4
The responsibilities of an academic

• Teaching undergraduate, post-grad, workshops,
  short courses, seminars- New buzzword Teaching
  Portfolio!
• Research Types, specialization
• Research Grant writing
• Publication Accredited and non-accredited
  (Publish, dont perish!)
• Administration Dept., Faculty, Senate
• Community work / service
• Professional membership and duty
• Tenure and promotion which work area weighs more?

5
Survival issues in LIS training

• LIS Market demands Information or Library
  specialists?
• Educational reforms curriculum revision,
  landscape changes
• Employment opportunities in various LIS sectors
• Dwindling student enrolment
• Student academic support and information
  literacy shared responsibility
• Learnerships

6
Conclusion

• LIS as academic discipline and service will only
  be strengthened if WE promote it ourselves
• Our own professionalism in our workplace will
  inspire future LIS generations lead and teach
  by example!
• Our status profile in Higher Education will be
  raised if we avail ourselves for essential
  portfolios and research opportunities.
• We have to stop creating barriers between Support
  staff and academic staff in LIS.

7
THANKS

• My sincere thanks to the organizers of this panel
  discussion for the opportunity to share my views
  with you.
• May the rest of our deliberations indeed be very
  educative.