Development of Management Strategies for Collaboration in Information Science Education and Research in the ASEAN Community

Abstract

This study aimed at 1) analyzing the status and management of ASEAN collaboration in library and information science (LIS) education and research, 2)analyzing factors promoting and hindering the management of collaboration, 3)studying the needs for collaboration, and 4) developing strategic recommendations for ASEAN collaboration in LIS education and research. This research used mixed methods of documentary, qualitative and quantitative research. Key informants consisted of purposive key persons involved with regional or international collaborative activities in the field. They were eight Thai and seventeen foreign key persons from ASEAN countries + 3, five head programs from five different LIS schools in Thailand, and thirty four LIS academicians and professionals. The research instruments comprised a documentary analysis form, interview forms, and a questionnaire. Data analyses were both content analysis for qualitative data, and IOC for quantitative data.

The research findings showed that: 1) collaboration in education and research in library and information science in the ASEAN community was established in 1970. The Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians (CONSAL) is a sole official regional professional organization for librarians, library associations and institutions from Southeast Asian countries, governed by the CONSAL constitution, with the objectives covering cooperation in education and research in the field; 2) Factors promoting and hindering the management of LIS collaboration were both external and internal factors; 3) all ASEAN countries are aware of the importance and needs for LIS regional collaboration in education and research, with various collaborative activities leading to internationalization; 4) recommendations for the strategic management of ASEAN collaboration in LIS education and research included 4S (Small - Spirit – System - Sustain) as the basic principles, collaboration in education focusing on curriculum, teaching and learning, faculty, students and quality assurance. Research collaboration focusing on defining joint research topics, research funding , joint research, and joint organizing academic activities.