The University of Malawi, Library Department is informing the general public that it will be offering the following short courses in its 2023-2024 calendar. Course details are as follows:
| Serial No | Course Name | Date to be offered | Venue |
| 1. | Ethics and Professionalism in Records Management in the Public and Private Sector | 27-29 June 2023 | UNIMA, Zomba |
| 2. | Elementary Statistics for library and information professionals | 29-31 August 2023 | UNIMA |
| 3. | Major Copyright Issues in academic libraries | 31 Oct-2nd Nov. 2023 | UNIMA |
| 4. | Records Management: Legal Perspective | 5-7 Dec. 2023 | UNIMA |
| 5. | Boosting online academic journal visibility | 26-28 March 2024 | UNIMA |
COURSE DESCRIPTION
1. Ethics and Professionalism in Records Management in the Public and Private Sector
Today, with the proliferation of information technologies, records are being created and distributed electronically every minute. This brings its own challenges in terms of ethics and professionalism in their handling. Organisations have been hit hard with improper disclosure, leakages, alteration, destruction and deletion or withholding of records by employees. This malpractice is presenting an ethical crisis in records management. This course takes aim at sanitizing the ethical landscape as far as records management is concerned.
2. Elementary statistics for library and Information professionals
Today’s top corporate managers need to make decisions based on tangible evidence. This evidence is generated from statistics on all the operations of the organisations. Unfortunately, statistics is a hard nut to crack for many. This course, therefore, is tailored for all non-statisticians in the field of archives, Information Science, information and records management. It emphasizes basic concepts of statistical theory, data collection methodologies, visualization creation and display so that participants will be able to better conduct statistical analysis and communicate their findings to top management for decision-making that is evidence-based.
3. Major Copyright issues in academic libraries
Academic librarians face complex issues and challenges in navigating the maze that is the copyright landscape. Some of the issues are obvious, but others are far more subtle, particularly in a digital environment. Issues that invoke confusion and concern as to the applicability of copyright law include e-reserves, licensing, document delivery, and fair use. The mission of academic libraries in the most simplistic language is to provide their patrons access to information anywhere and at anytime. However, how a library accomplishes that mission within the parameters of the copyright law is usually debatable and is sometimes dependent upon each university’s interpretation of the law.
This course will equip the participants to become as knowledgeable as possible about copyright. The rapid pace of technological innovation constantly challenges the traditional application of copyright law. Librarians are generally on the cutting edge of such new technology and have the opportunity and responsibility to assist in educating their campuses about the impact of copyright law on libraries, particularly in a digital environment.
4. Records Management: Legal Perspectives
Records management (RM) in most institutions is rarely given the attention it deserves. However, RM is one of the key functions of an institution that deserves attention. There are several legal and regulatory frameworks that mandate institutions to keep records. Most institutions in the country partially comply with these legal frameworks. Hence, this module will bring awareness to the employers and all records-creating
agencies (organisations of all nature) of the existing legal frameworks in the country regarding record keeping and how each of these impact records keeping. Participants will also be made aware of the implications that may come with non-compliance.
5. Boosting online academic journal visibility
Researchers from developing countries face the challenge of sharing their results in credible journals. This has caused a significant negative impact on research, particularly for authors in countries with limited resources. At the moment, Africa is a hot target of predatory journals. Authors with limited resources in these settings cannot afford the high fees of open-access publishing, and therefore we need to promote the visibility of our African journals. Since the main target of these predatory journals are authors in their infancy, there is a need to carry out awareness and sanitization campaigns targeting such authors. It is also important to promote our local journal publishers so that they meet the minimum standards of internationally accredited journals. In so doing, Malawian journal publishers will attract both local and international authors thereby curbing predatory journals from taking advantage of our innocent authors.
This workshop will target academics/ researchers, authors in general, librarians, and ICT experts.
Course Fee: Mk300,000.00
Course Coordinators:
Jessy Mphunda; jmphunda@unima.ac.mw; 0999959659
Blessings Katuma; bkatuma@unima.ac.mw; 0999612337
Naomi Kachoka; nkachoka@unima.ac.mw; 0993871852/0881516696