LILAC 2014 Poster

1. Transferability of information and
data literacy beyond academia
Information and data literacy (IDL) is critical in academic settings, but is also important as a
transferable set of skills beyond academia; particularly so in a knowledge-based economy,
where the gathering, interpreting and deployment of evidence are crucial components.
The Research Information and Digital Literacies Coalition (RIDLs) has received HEFCE
funding to amplify to consider the relevance of IDL for individuals moving from academic to
non-academic realms.
RIDLs is consulting with selected organisations on the
interface between the worlds of higher education
and employment, to develop an understanding of
the place (if any) of IDL in their policy and practice.
Care is being taken in the way that IDL is
explained to interlocutors that are approached,
as ‘information and data literacy’ is often not
well-recognised as a descriptive term outside the
library world.
To provide an initial corpus of evidence which will be
analysed and presented to indicate whether and how these
organisations envisage IDL as a transferable set of skills and
know-how for individuals moving from academia to the wider
professional environment; and a basis for determining possible
future action.
If successful, this activity could provide an opportunity to
create and/or improve channels of communication between
stakeholders, with a view to:
raising awareness of the relevance and importance of IDL,
particularly for those who have not hitherto engaged with
the issue;
generate among those players a better understanding of
the relevance and importance of IDL;
set out common approaches to the promotion of IDL in
academia and the world of employment;
consider the possibility of jointly developing resources such
as career profiles.
These are the broad questions that are being
addressed to the various consulted organisations:
Is there a perceived need for IDL capability for
individuals within the area of your remit?
Do you feel that individuals that you deal with are
sufficiently equipped with the relevant information
skills and know-how? And if not, what are the gaps?
What place does this capability have in the policy
and practice of your organisation?
Is there a demand for professional development /
training in this area from individuals that you deal
with? Do you run or promote training or CPD activities
that relate, directly or indirectly, to the acquisition
or development of relevant skills and know-how?
How else might this capability be developed
(either by your organisation, or outside it)?
This is work in progress…further interlocutors may emerge.
Managed by
Timescale:
Consultations taking place April-July 2014. Synthesis of views and conclusions will be published during
the summer. Future action (such as a workshop or forum) could take place from September.
Further details: www.researchinfonet.org/infolit/ridls
Contact: Stéphane Goldstein, stephane.goldstein@researchinfonet.org | 020 3397 3647
Premise
Approach
Objective
Questions
Higher
Education
realm
University careers /
employment services
Learned /
professional bodies
Association of
Graduate Recruiters
National Centre
for Universities
and Business
UK Commission for
Employment and Skills
Individual
employers
TUC
CBI
Accreditation
bodies
UK Council for
Graduate Education
Higher Education
Academy
Vitae
AGCAS
Employment
realm
Who are the players?
Who are we talking to?
Research
Information and
Digital Literacies
Coalition