Abstract

Library education in India and Australia has developed independently with distinct features. This paper provides brief profile of the history of India and Australia followed by discussion of the evolution of LIS education in both the countries. The paper is a comparative study. It discusses the different issues and challenges encountered in LIS education in India and Australia. This comparison is an attempt to critique improvements that must be made to LIS education in India to ensure on going sustainability and relevance. In India, the growth of library schools; dated LIS curricula; increasing student faculty ratios; accreditation; and the employability of graduates are some key issues. In Australia challenges include the broad employment landscape; mismatch between pay and qualifications; decreasing numbers of educators; existence of a multi-tiered system; LIS students and institutional affiliations. A number of strategies have been used in both India and Australia to enhance LIS education. Using LIS education in Australia as a benchmark the authors show how LIS education in India can be enhanced and improved.

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