Click the star to add/remove an item to/from your individual schedule.
You need to be logged in to avail of this functionality.
Log in
- Convenors:
-
Mary Hallin
(University of Nebraska at Omaha)
Paul Nchoji Nkwi (Catholic University of Cameroon)
- Discussant:
-
Kamela Heyward-Rotimi
(KERG USA; Duke University USA)
- Stream:
- Worlds in motion: Global Flows/Mondes en mouvement: Flots globaux
- Location:
- FSS 1007
- Start time:
- 5 May, 2017 at
Time zone: America/New_York
- Session slots:
- 1
Short Abstract:
Since the establishment of the Commission on Documentation, efforts have been made to share knowledge in a number of ways and e-learning and e-library is emerging as vital tools that can enhance this process between universities in the developed and developing world.
Long Abstract:
Since the establishment of the Commission on Documentation, efforts have been made to share knowledge in a number of ways between universities in developed countries and universities in developing countries. In the highly wired world, e-learning and e-library are emerging as vital tools to meet the needs of the students and to create highly functional libraries in developing countries that are linked to universities around the world. This panel seeks to address the following questions: 1) Are developing countries abreast of these changes and how are their universities adapting to these new forms of communication and circulation of knowledge? 2) What are the barriers to setting up e-learning platforms and e-libraries in African Universities? 3) What are potential ways to facilitate establishing e-learning platforms and e-libraries in African universities and links with universities around the world? 4) What are the benefits of global knowledge exchange?
Accepted papers:
Session 1Mary Hallin (University of Nebraska at Omaha)
Paper short abstract:
Information technology can connect libraries and scholars across the globe. What are barriers to developing e-libraries and e-learning and ways to overcome these barriers? What are the benefits of knowledge exchange among scholars worldwide?
Paper long abstract:
Historically, universities in developed countries have donated books and journals to universities in developing countries. These book drives took a lot of time and money to mount and often, the materials sent were outdated. Current information technology allows libraries around the world to be connected and renders efforts to share physical books and journals obsolete. Just as important, this technology supports a two-way flow of information so that the wealth of knowledge among scholars in developing countries can be available to colleagues everywhere. Electronic platforms can enhance collaborative research among scholars across the world and can also support training in research methods via e-learning. This paper examines the barriers to the development of e-libraries and e-learning in developing countries and ways to overcome those barriers. The barriers addressed also include those faced by universities in developed countries. In addition this paper examines the benefits of global knowledge exchange. Information technology can expand our borders and provide endless ways to share information across the globe.
Paul Nchoji Nkwi (Catholic University of Cameroon)
Paper short abstract:
The sharing of knowledge has progressively improved. Technologies in the west are making it possible to share knowledge between universities in developing and developed countries. Knowledge is part of human patrimony and as such should constitute a value for all humans.
Paper long abstract:
The library and access to knowledge is central to a university. Yet, in developing countries, universities may not have a library and face challenges in building a functional library. With the Internet, physical libraries are becoming obsolete in developing countries. The sharing of knowledge has progressively improved. Technologies in the west are making it possible to link up university libraries and individuals around the world. The e-library and e-learning facilities in the west are becoming routine while developing countries lag behind. Knowledge is part of human patrimony and as such should constitute a value for all humans. Countries across the global South must meet these challenges if they are to contribute as equal partners to the massive knowledge sharing now in progress. This paper will provide the current status of libraries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the barriers faced by developing countries in the global South to catch up with the cyber optic revolution. Being connected to universities around the world will facilitate education and development in developing countries.
Omotayo Owoeye (Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Nigeria )
Paper short abstract:
During the 20th century, mostly foreign scholars (Ulli Beier and Suzanne Wenger) and few Nigerian scholars focused on African textile, which includes indigo-dyed textiles – popularly called adire among Yoruba people – but as a minor art form – focusing on the describable aspects and neglecting its sociality
Paper long abstract:
During the 20th century, mostly foreign scholars (Ulli Beier and Suzanne Wenger) and few Nigerian scholars focused on African textile, which includes indigo-dyed textiles - popularly called adire among Yoruba people - but as a minor art form - focusing on the describable aspects and neglecting its sociality - the symbolic and social contexts of indigo-dyed textile processes in comparison to other artistic expression such as sculpture. This is due to periods of underdevelopment - much of it imposed from outside - the colonization and post-colonization projects - have posed a threat to the nature of its scholarship. In the 21st century, despite the emergence of narrative and humanistic anthropological inscription on thriving indigenous textile technologies through agency, practice and performance - scholars, mostly from the West treat the indigo dyed-textile products as homogenous products and devoid of the Yoruba women-dyers' symbolic and indigenous narratives - a colonized knowledge - descriptive and economic-cetred. However, in the present theoretical moment - the decolonization of knowledge, this paper through the ethnographic account of women dyers in the indigo textile dyeing production processes re-examined the theoretical analyses of the indigenous indigo textile; specifically the agency, practice and performance of the Yoruba women dyers' knowledge within the context of decolonization of knowledge - an addition to the defamiliarizing collaborative projects.
Isaac Nyamongo (Cooperative University of Kenya)
Paper short abstract:
Institutions of higher learning in Africa have two challenges: lack of stocked libraries and poor internet connectivity. Are scholars in Africa able and willing to push institutions to explore access to resources through the internet? Lessons for institutions in similar environments are drawn.
Paper long abstract:
Many institutions of higher learning in Africa have the double problem of lack of well-stocked libraries and a poor internet connectivity. This double challenge conspires to keep scholars in Africa low resourced in terms of new information. While the former challenge remains, it can be eased through enhanced connectivity. Fortunately, internet is taking root in Africa albeit with limited bandwidth. With the internet in place the challenge of access to resources is overcome. The question that however remains is one. Are scholars in Africa able and willing to push their University libraries to explore ways to ensuring access to resources through the internet? This paper presents a case study of the University of Nairobi, which has over time improved its e-resource. It explores the role of users in taking the university library into the 21st century and what this means in terms of scholarly output and ultimately the ranking of the University regionally and globally. The paper draws useful lessons for other institutions in similar environments.