International Symposium on Knowledge Communities 2012

Ischools and its Collaborative activities in Thailand
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Lampang Manmart
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Malee Kabmala
Information & Communication Management Program
Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences,
Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Brief History of Library and Information Science
Education in Thailand
•••
••
•
•
•
•

1951: The first Library- training program at Chulalongkorn University
under the auspice of Fulbright Foundation.
1955: Diploma in Library Science, Chulalongkorn University.
1959: BA in Library Science, Chulalongkorn University .
1962: BA in Library Science, Thamasat University.
1967: BA in Library Science, Chiang Mai University, The first programin provincial university.
1975:BA in Library Science, KhonKaen University.
1964: The first MA in Library Science at Chulalongkorn University.
1994: MA in Library and Information Science, Khon Kaen University.
2003:The first Ph.D. in Information Studies at Khon Kaen University.

Library & Information ScienceEducation : Formal System
Bachelor Degree

Professional entry level Practitioner

Master’s Degree

Higher/Advanced level Manager/Specialist

Doctoral Degree

Highest level Researcher/Educator/Faculty

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Bachelor Degree Programs
Offered in Thai Universities• 15 Public/Autonomous Univ.

1959-1990• 24 Rajabhat Univ.

Library Science• 2 Private Univ.

(14 Universities)

Current Status
41 Universities, 44 Programs• Library and Information Science(18)• Information Science (12)• Modern Management and• Information Studies (4)Information Technology (1)• Information Management (3)• Children Literature (1)• Information and Library Science (2)• Information for Communication(1)• Library Science (2)KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Master’s Degree Programs
Offered in Thai Universities
Current Status

1964-1990

15 Universities, 15 Programs• Library Science (3)• Library and InformationScience (7)(10 Universities)• Library and Information Science (8)• Information Management (1)• Information Science (1)• Information Studies (1)• Learning Resources Management (1)• Archive and Record Management (1)• Knowledge Management (1)• Management of Information Technology (1)• 13 Public/Autonomous Univ.
• 2 Rajabhat Univ.

Doctoral Program inInformation Studies at KKUResearcher, Educators, University Faculty, etc.
Any environments/organizations

ResearchManagementTechnology

Information

Library science, Education, Computer science, Management science, Businessadministration, Public health, etc.

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

The Challenges in LIS Education
INPUTS

UNIVERSITY’S POLICY• Decreasing enrollments• Demanded-sided oriented• Decreasing potentialapplicants• Resources sharing• Increasing drop outs

• Self-reliance (decreasing budget)

Threats
MARKETS• Decreasing library markets• Demands for new competencies

More options- more programs in IT, ICT, MIS, KM, etc.
KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Why changes
1. The employment markets for LIS graduates- shifted from library settings to business andprivate settings so the curriculum changed its goals
to business or private sectors and entrepreneurs inthe new economy- curriculum became multidisciplinary withmore course works in subject fields especiallycomputer and technology, business, management,communication arts
- more library and information science
graduates were employed outside libraries

Why changes
2. The curriculum became multidisciplinary- more course works in subject fields especiallycomputer and technology, business, management,communication arts
- changed from graduate individuals withgeneral knowledge and competencies to businessoriented , management-oriented, and technological–
oriented approachWhy changes
3. response to the change:• The schools tend to change in the curricula to matchthe needed knowledge and competencies of the new
information environment and new demands•the name of the revised curricula moved beyond libraryboundaries and librarians, from library, library andinformation science to information science, information
studies or information management.
•The word “library” in the name of the program was foundto be unattractive to the students, limit the scope of thesubject area , the job market and the perception of people
in the society.
•The shift in the west resulted into the term “ischools”
replacing the term LIS.

What changes?
CHANGES• Name of the program• Contents of the courses• Multi-disciplinaryoriented• Changes in enrollments (increasingnumbers, more potential applicants, variousbackgrounds)• Changes in job markets (more job
opportunities, broader market places)• Changes in research & education(integrated/multi-disciplinary research, faculty
staff from different backgrounds)• Changes in program administration (crossdepartments, organizational merging, cross theschools, universities)

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

The Collaborative activities
among the schools- information schools can expand the rangeof courses, training and services allimportant topics are covered,- To keep up to date with developments andchange in the profession- To provide opportunities for join researchwhich capitalizes on their perspective
areas of special interest and expertise.

The Collaborative activities
among the schools- To develop Doctoral Program in Information
Studies at Khon Kaen University- To join research, co- supervision forthesis and dissertation- Team teaching across the areas anduniversities- Conference and workshop and professional
network- Sharing the knowledge, resources, andexpertise through the professional
networking

Current situation Research inThailand• The overall quality of Research in LIS is still neededfor development.
• Research questions• Research methodology• Research impacts• There are very few active researchers in LIS.
• Majority of researches are student’s theses• Few faculty staff/LIS professionals have good
research skills• Few researchers link with professionals inother fields
KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Current situation of LIS Research inThailand• The new opportunities for LIS research in Thailand:• PHD program will enhance the quality ofresearch in the field.
• Research publications in peer reviewed journalor academic conferences are required for
graduate students and for faculty
staff/researchers.
• Thai Library Association has published theInternational standard- TLA Research Journal, abi-lingual journals, published bi-annually, startedVol. 1 in Jan-June 2008.
KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Current situation of Research in LIS• The new research areas in LIS currently conducted in Thailand:• Management of ICT• Library, Information, learning center management• Information literacy• Digital libraries, metadata, ontology• Information services strategies for specific groups of users• Knowledge management and culture heritage management• Knowledge and information organization• Information society, digital divided• Information system and management in various areas, eg
elderly, local wisdom, local government management, ruralcommunity, etc.
• Applications of quality management, learning organization, andother modern management theories in libraries/organizational
development• Development of LIS professionals competencies
KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Suggestions for Research Collaborations
among Professionals in Asia
• Create lists of experts in LIS, specialinterests• Exchange of staff and students• Exchange of peer reviews for thedevelopment of quality of research• Conduct annual International conference asa academic community for LIS graduate
students and researchers.

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

The Current Situation of Post Graduate Studies in the field of Libraryand Information Science in Thailand: Case of PhD Program inInformation Studies,Khon Kaen University

About KKU• Khon Kaen University (KKU) was one of four regional universities established in 1964 as partof a decentralized development plan for higher education in Thailand. The campus is located inthe northwest sector of Khon Kaen, just a few kilometres from the center of the city.
• KKU is the largest education and learning center in the Northeast of Thailand, and is recognized
as the leader of new innovations in teaching and learning and research in the region.

The KKU Tree is the Pink Cassia ( Cassia bakeriana )• Khon Kaen University

The KKU Tree is the Pink Cassia ( Cassia bakeriana )Ph.D. in Information Studies, KKU• The first Ph.D. program in the field of library& Information in Thailand was developed
based on unprecedented change in the useof information, and its convention intoknowledge and wisdom is reshaping
personal activities, community andorganizational practices, and national andglobal institutions.
• In managing these transformations, society
too often focuses narrowly either on
extending technology or on revising socialpolicies

Ph.D. in Information Studies, KKU•

Principles that illuminate the role ofinformation in both computation andcognition, in both communication andcommunity must be identified andemphasized.

•Information professionals are needed
who can apply these principles tosynthesize human-centered andtechnological perspectives. This entails
educating researchers, educators,consultants, and others, who share theview that information is a manageable
resource, so that the can effectively
assume their important role in thetransformation of a learning society.

Overview of Information Studies•

Positions in this field range from those involved indesigning, building, and using on-line information
bases in a wide variety of disciplines to those
involved in academic, public, school, special
libraries and information centers.

•Information professionals are engaged in thebusiness of helping other people locate and obtain
information they need for daily living and decision
making in their personal and professional lives ina knowledge based societyOverview of Information Studies•

Information Studies offers the opportunity toblend basic concerns for human needs for
information with involvement in up-to-date andcutting edge technology and systems for creating,acquiring, storing, organizing, accessing anddelivering information that can be of political,economic, social and technological value.

Vision•The vision of this doctoral program is to educate
researchers and educators by focusing upon
harmonizing people, information systems, andorganizations to improve the quality of life of all
citizens, particularly those in Thailand.

•Graduates should aspire to creating new
knowledge; impart knowledge to the next
generation of information professionals; andutilize the results in the development of aknowledge-based society.

Mission
The primary mission of this program is: to educate a newgeneration of information professionals who will put thatvision into practice is. This will be accomplishedthrough:• focusing upon the principles and concepts that will
enable society to realize this vision and• discovering the technologies, systems, and practices
that will substantiate the vision.
•The core field of the study, entails:• how information is created, identified, collected,structured, managed, preserved, accessed,processed, and presented;• how it is used and ultimately valued in different
environments, with different technologies, and overtime.

Objectives
The Doctor of Philosophy Program in Information Studies isintended to produce qualified graduates with thesecompetencies.

•Advanced knowledge for integrating each
student’s background knowledge for
information management, problem solving, andinformation knowledge transfer.

•Advanced research skills for high quality
research works leading to innovations or new
knowledge, or applicability to solve problems
and national and international recognition.

•Awareness of professional ethics, andrealizations of roles in creating and promoting
information use which will eventually lead tosocial and national development.

Degree Requirements
Admission Standards:
Acceptance for PhD study requires a Master’s degree from arecognized institution in Thailand or an equivalentinternational institutions. An interview is required of all.”
Recommended skills: Additional skills may be necessary,
based upon the advice of the student’s doctoral supervisor.
English Language Proficiency: Students need to know how todesign, conduct and analyze research investigations andare expected to demonstrate a competency in the English
language in order to more effectively utilize resources in
the completion of their program.

The Program structure
Program type 1.1 (Non -course work, onlydissertation)

Students must complete 3 credits for non-credit
course and 48 credits for dissertation.
Program type 2.1 (Course work and dissertation)
Students must complete 12 credits for required
courses (including 3 credits for non-credit
course), 3 credits for electives, and 36
credits for dissertation.

The Program structure
Program type 1.1Required Course
412 801*
Academic Writing 3(3-0-6)* Non-credit course

Dissertation
412 997
Dissertation 48 Credit

The Program structure
Program type 2.1
Required Courses
12 credits
412 801* Academic Writing 3(3-0-6)
412 804 Research in Information Studies I 3(2-2-5)
412 805 Research in Information Studies II 3(2-2-5)
412 806 Advanced Theories for Information Studies3(3-0-6)* Non-credit course
Electives
412 981412 982
412 983

3 credits
Special Topics in Information and Knowledge Management3(3-0-6)
Special Topics in Information System and Technology3(3-0-6)
Special Topics in Information Services and Communication3(3-0-6)

Dissertation
412 999

Dissertation

36 Credit

Research Issues
Management of Information and Knowledge in modern quality
and learning organizations.
• Information literacy, information behaviors• Information society, digital divided• Knowledge organization: Classification, metadata, ontology• Knowledge management and culture heritage management• Information System in organization• Information services strategies for specific groups of users•Information system and management in various areas, eg
elderly, local wisdom, local government management, ruralcommunityใ
• Applications of quality management, learning organization,and other modern management theories inlibraries/organizational development• Development of LIS professionals competencies

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY, THAILAND

Thank you
lamman@kku.ac.th