LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE EDUCATION AT SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY IN OMAN: PREPARING INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS FOR LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT ROLES

Abstract Around the world, Library and Information Science (LIS) Education is being transformed in order to keep pace with evolving user requirements and technological changes. The literature indicates, however, that LIS departments in many developing countries may not be adequately prepared to exploit the new opportunities. Despite the challenges of being located in a developing country in the Middle East, the LIS department at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) aims not only to deliver outstanding education in information studies but also to play a leading role in the development of Omani society and the wider region by providing highly-skilled leaders and managers of information services. This article examines the trends in LIS education, especially in Asia, and discusses the current provision and future objectives of LIS education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) in Oman in the context of these broader developments, focusing in particular on the role of the LIS department in preparing graduates for leadership and management roles in information services. Finally, the article provides an overall assessment of LIS education at SQU identifies some opportunities and risks, which the University's LIS Department is likely to face in the years ahead. Trends in LIS education in Asia Library and Information Science has undergone significant transformations in recent decades in order to keep pace with technological developments and associated changes in user requirements, 15