Quality assurance of library and information Science education in the ASEAN Countries: Moving towards regionalization and internationalization

Quality assurance of library and information Science education in the ASEAN Countries: Moving towards regionalization and internationalization

The purpose of this paper is to study the status of LIS education and the quality assurance systems of LIS education in the ASEAN countries and to propose strategies for the development of LIS education quality assurance in the ASEAN region. Documentary research was mainly used, supplemented by interviews with key purposive selected LIS persons in the region. Research instruments included a content analysis form and guideline questions for semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data from documents and supplementary interviews were analyzed, synthesized and presented descriptively to answer the three research questions. Findings showed that LIS education in the ASEAN countries has long history. All ASEAN countries except Cambodia have LIS formal education programs. The government of each ASEAN country established a national accreditation system for higher education programs to assure the quality of higher education providers, and enhance international standards and recognition. Usually the Ministry of Education issued standards, criteria and monitoring system to guarantee all programs offered in higher education. LIS education programs have been under supervision of the National accreditation bodies. There is no specific system/organization for accrediting LIS schools/ education programs and library associations have no authorization to do. The proposed strategies for the development of LIS quality assurance in the region focus on ASEAN Quality Assurance Network (AQAN) and ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework for Higher Education (AQAFHE) and LIS collaborative networking as well as strong support at the policy level of each country and the region as a means of facilitating the internationalization of LIS higher education.