University of MostarBosnia and Herzegovina

Information literacy activities

- progress report –

University of Mostar

RINGIDEA, Brasov, 29.02.2012

The University of Mostar comprises

• Faculties (10+1):– Agriculture– Economics – Civil engineering – Medicine– Law – Mechanical engineering and

computing – Philosophy – Natural Science and

Education– Health studies– Pharmacy– Academy of fine arts

• Institutes for:

– Agriculture

– Economics

– Civil engineering

– Croatian language, literature and history

– Latin language

– Law

– Mechanical engineering

– Social researches

•Other:

– University library

– Student Hostel (Hall of Residence)

– Student Union and Student Associations,

– Student Services

– University Sport Facilities

University of Mostar – facts • More than 16000 students

• 1000 teachers and associates

• From 2005/2006 the University established three Cycles according to Bologna

• In 2006 the first generation was enrolled in doctoral studies at the Faculty of Philosophy

• In 2008/2009 the first generation was enrolled in the second cycle

The studies are composed of following three levels:

FIR

ST

CY

CL

ES

EC

ON

D

CY

CL

E

UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

DOCTORAL STUDY

MASTER STUDY

Bachelor3-4 YEARS

180-240 ECTS

1-2 YEARS

60-120 ECTS

Master

3 YEARS

180 ECTS

PhD

TH

IRD

C

YC

LE

University organisational structure – present state• Faculties are still legal bodies• Employment at faculty level • Students’ enrollment at faculty level• Small number of services (offices) at university

level (Office for international cooperation, QA office)

• Commissions at university level:– For Bologna process– For normative activities– For interuniversity cooperation– For finance, investment and development

Libraries at University• University library + faculty

libraries• Total of 40000 literary units,

5650 different titles• Total of 850 m2 of space• 14 employees

University library• Trained staff with certification

exam• Part of COBBIS

• Co-operative Online Bibliographic Systems and Services

• reference model of a system representing the platform for the national library information systems of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia

University library• Service of database search• Access to online databases:

– EBSCO

Faculty Libraries• Offer

– Books– Journals– Handbooks– Graduaton, master, PhD thesis of

former students

Faculty Libraries• Some of them part of COBBIS:

– Law faculty– Agriculture faculty– Philosophy faculty

• Access to databases– Economics: EBSCO– Medical: OVID, SPRINGER (partial

access); WEB OF SCIENCE (interlibrary exchange)

Faculty Libraries • Agriculture

Category Number of titles

Number of copies

Books in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

320 663

Journals in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

2 15

Journals in foreign languages 2 10Total 324 668

Faculty Libraries • Civil Engineering

Category Number of titles

Number of copies

Books in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

418 4000

Journals in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

4 120

Journals in foreign languages 1 10Reference books in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

8 10

Total 431 4140

Faculty Libraries • Economics

Category Number of copies

Books in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

2109

Books in foreign languages 932

Journals in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

312

Journals in foreign languages 77Handbooks in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina

606

Total 4036

Faculty Libraries • Mechanical engineering and

computingCategory Number of copies

Books of inhouse proffesors 55

Books 2500

Journals 55

Total 2610

Student side• Library activity – not so good• Not familiar with existance of

COBBIS• Not familiar with other

databases• Quick solution: google search

Student side• Negative student habits with

information gathering:– “Copy-paste” method– Unorganized collected information– Lack of effort at information search

Academic staff• Searching and using electronic

databases (domestic and international)

• Using other libraries (e.g. Croatian)

• Individual efforts, not institutionally supported (financial reasons)

Administrative staff• Subscription to official papers

and gazettes• Accounting seminars (obligatory

for certified accountants)

The concept of IL• Mostly unmentioned• Unknown by general public• No special programs or

initiatives for IL per se

IL in disguise• Within courses at some faculties

– methodology of scientific work– introduction to seminar paper etc.

IL news• Study program „information

sciences” at Philosophy Faculty• Started in academic 2011/12

– Oriented at searching, evaluating and selecting information with basic skills of their description, protection and presentation

Perceived needs• Public identification of IL concept• Better introduction of IL to

students (and academic and administrative staff)

• Practical work with students to enhance their IL

SVEMO - Work dynamics• 2 preparation meetings:

– 16.12.2011 and 20.1.2012• Members of DWG,ILMWG and

international relations persons• Discussions, planning of further

actions

Work meetings• First meeting• The purpose to discuss further

actions and overall working plan of two working groups. It was concluded that both groups will make an operational plan on how they intend to fullfill their obligations that were discussed at the meeting in Limerick.

Work meetings• Second meeting• IMWG: small workshop will be held at the

beginning of February• teaching staff and students of the

university (max 15 in total) would be presented with IL online modules

• which module is most suitable for the university

• preferences, especially of the students when it comes to online content and learning by it

• No workshop held – technical difficulties:– Heavy snow, state of natural

distaster• Individuals meetings held with

teaching staff and students

IL workshop/meeting

IL meetings

• Coordinator: Jelena Brkic• 20.-24.2.2012• Questionnaire about IL modules• Gathering opinions and

preferences

IL meetings - participants• Ivana Zovko, international relations office at University of

Mostar• Javorka Anđelić Raič, librarian at University library• Jelena Brkić, technical coordinator for international

cooperation, Faculty of Economics• Sanja Bijakšić, professor at Faculty of Economics• Alena Jurić, assistant professor, Faculty of Law• Mirela Mabić, assistant to the professor, Faculty of

Economics• Marko Odak, assistant to the professor, Faculty of

Philosophy• Students:

– Lana Džidić, Faculty of Economics, 1st year, master– Igor Čarapina, Faculty of Economics, 1st year, master– Marijana Leventić, Faculty of Engineering and Computing,

1st year, bachelor

Conclusions• Modern modules with more animations and

interactivity are more acceptable• Majority approved the Cranfield

University module with only one remark: lack of visible table of content (just like in the model of Trinity College Dublin)

• Technical obsticle for the Cranfield University module: little bit slower in response (at least on computers at the University)

Conclusions• Students: divided between Cranfield University

model and Trinity College Dublin model (because of its simlicity and visibility)

• Students not too keen on watching a video tutorial if it only containts person talking about the subject; they would only take time to watch an educational video if it was demonstrating a solution to some problem etc.

• Main headings of the tutorial: as simple as possible, not containing any unclear terms (Epigeum Research Skills)

• No specific demands regarding main headings were made; the existance of the generic IL module seems fine by everyone

Implementing IL modules

• Using existing courses• No possibility of introducing new

separate IL course (for now):– Difficult procedure for changing

official syllabus– Lack of adequate teaching staff

Implementing IL modules• Existing courses – agreed to cooperate

Faculty Course Year

Facutly of Economics(4+1)

Introduction to writing a seminar paper

2nd bachelor

Methodology of scientific and research work

1st master

Faculty of Philosophy

(Introduction to) Scientific and research work (5 courses)

1st bachelor

Faculty of Natural Sciences and Education

Scientific and research work(7 courses)

2nd master

Implementing IL modules• To be included in the future

Faculty Course Year

Faculty of Agriculture and Food Technology

Methodology of scientific and research work

2nd master

Faculty of Medicine(6+0)

Scientific methodology 4th bachelor

Implementing IL modules

• Phase 1:– To be included as part of official

literature• Phase 2:

– To give noticeable teaching hours to the IL module

• Phase 3:– Evaluating students using IL

modules

Implementing IL modules

• Best ground in the future:– Study of Information science at

Faculty of Philosophy– Faculties with no course in IL,

methodology of scientific work etc.

University of Mostar

Thank you for your attention!

University of MostarBosnia and Herzegovina

Information literacy activities

- progress report –

University of Mostar

RINGIDEA, Brasov, 29.02.2012