The School of Information and Social Studies at the Technical University of Kenya (TU-K) is exploring opportunities for academic and professional development collaboration with the Mortenson Center of International Library Programs at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

In this regard, the Director of the School, Professor Tom Kwanya, held discussions with Professor Clara Chu, a distinguished Professor and Director of the Mortenson Center who visited the University on 17 July 2023.

The two explored opportunities for collaborative research particularly on emerging technologies in information spaces such as artificial intelligence and robotics. Through this, the School will join and benefit from existing multi-disciplinary and multi-country collaborative research partnerships. This will help to improve research excellence and visibility through access to research capacity development, mentorship, and funding.

The institutions also considered staff and student exchange programs. These will contribute to the School’s efforts to internationalize and benchmark its programs in order to attain world-class standards. The exchanges will also provide opportunities for collaborative projects on emerging issues of mutual interest.

Professor Chu, who is also a former President of the Association for Library and Information Science Education as well as the Association for Information Science and Technology, also shared insights on curricula development. She drew from her experience as a co-developer of the Guidelines for Professional Library and Information Science Education Programmes under the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA).

The Professor also visited the TU-K Library and held discussions with the Director, Library and Learning Resource Services, Dr. Sarah Kibugi. They discussed opportunities for advanced professional development training at the Mortenson Center. This is a three-week non-degree program that focuses on developing library and information science professionals into library leaders and innovators. Participants in the program get to learn about novel and innovative library services and practices; explore current trends and issues in the discipline; network with international colleagues and experts; tour progressive libraries in the USA; and cultivate appropriate leadership skills.

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