NIAGARA PROJECT

The NIAGARA PROJECT aims to enhance higher education institutions' (HEI) information services by improving digital competencies and ICT infrastructure through international collaboration. The project involves several universities across different countries, focusing on various aspects of digital literacy and library management.

NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL LANDSCAPE: UNIVERSITIES PARTNERING FOR CHANGE (2023-2026)

Participant Countries

Project Description

Among the most important factors in supporting teaching, learning, and research are the higher education institutions’ (HEI) libraries and librarians. Librarians are considered to be change agents and facilitators in teaching, learning, and research. To be able to meet the needs of library users, librarians must have adequate competencies to effectively manage and use learning management systems, academic databases, digital teaching platforms, institutional repositories, and communication technologies; they have to master the usage of different social media applications that support the provision of library services. This has become more apparent in the COVID age.

Project Goal

The main aim of this project is to utilize the partnership between universities in Zambia, Tanzania, Poland, and Norway to enhance HEI information services support by developing libraries’ ICT infrastructure and librarians’ digital competencies.

Specific Objectives of the Project

• To examine the state-of-the-art of digital competence skills among Library and Information Science (LIS) students and HEI librarians in included countries (Tanzania, Zambia, Norway, and Poland).
• To develop and implement short-term courses for librarians and LIS students.
• To strengthen digital infrastructure in partner university libraries in Zambia and Tanzania that will benefit all students and staff and ensure inclusive and equal access to services.

Primary Target Groups

The primary target groups are the HEI librarians and LIS students in Zambia and Tanzania. Further target beneficiaries are all students and faculty members (including those with fewer opportunities) working in the noted countries.

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Working Packages (WPs)

• WP 1: Digital Literacy Assessment
• WP 2: Education and Research Support
• WP 3: Inclusion and Equity
• WP 4: Infrastructural Capacity
• WP 5: Blended Mobility
• WP 6: Dissemination and Sustainability
• WP 7: Project Management and Coordination

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The Team

University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Manager of WP1)

• Kelefa Mwantimwa, Professor in the Information Studies Unit at the University of Dar es Salaam
• Elias Mwabungulu, Assistant Lecturer for the Information Studies Unit of the University of Dar es Salaam
• Evans Wema, Senior Lecturer in the Information Studies Unit at the University of Dar es Salaam

Sokoine Agricultural University, Tanzania (Manager of WP2)

• Wulystan Pius Mtega, Associate Professor at the Department of Informatics and Information Technology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania
• Andrew W. Malekani, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Informatics and Information Technology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania
• Ronard Bernard Tarimo, Lecturer at the Department of Informatics and Information Technology, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania

University of Zambia, Zambia (Manager of WP3)

• Christine W. Kanyengo, Senior Librarian at the University of Zambia (UNZA)
• Mercy Wamunyima, Acting Head of Medical Library at the University of Zambia School of Medicine
• Francina Makondo, Deputy University Librarian at the University of Zambia (UNZA)

University of Barotseland, Zambia (Manager of WP4)

• Greg Kwalombota Mubita, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Development at the University of Barotseland
• Namatama Ng'angu, Librarian at the University of Barotseland
• Kaywala Mulonda, University of Barotseland

Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway (Manager of WP5)

• Jamie Johnston, Associate Professor at the Department of Archivistics, Library and Information Science at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), and Adjunct Professor at the University of Iceland
• Idunn Bøyum, Associate Professor at the Department of Archivistics, Library and Information Science at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet)

Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland (Manager of WP6)

• Sabina Cisek, Professor and the Head of the Institute of Information Studies at Jagiellonian University
• Marek Deja, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Information Studies, Jagiellonian University
• Dorota Rak, Researcher and Assistant Professor at the Institute of Information Studies at the Jagiellonian University and a certified Design Thinking moderator
• Magdalena Wójcik, Professor and the Head of the Institute of Information Studies at Jagiellonian University
• Magdalena Zych, Institute of Information Studies, Jagiellonian University

Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway (Manager of WP7 & Project Coordinator)

• Elin Opheim, Academic Librarian at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
• Mahmood Khosrowjerdi, Senior Academic Librarian at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

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Contact Information

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