seven work packages
NIAGARAgrant is composed of seven work packages (WPs). Find out more about them!
- WP1: Management
- WP2: Digital competency assessment
- WP3: Education and Research support
- WP4: Inclusion and equity
- WP5: Infrastructural capacity
- WP6: Blended mobility
- WP7: Dissemination and sustainability
WP1: Management
WP1 Objectives
Monitoring and follow-up
WP1 Lead Beneficiary
HOGSKOLEN I INNLANDET (INN) – Norway
WP1 Description
T1.1 Partnership agreement. A partnership agreement covering financial, legal provisions, monitoring and implementation aspects related to the project will be signed. The partnership agreement will include consortium guidelines for conflict resolutions, the workplan, tasks and responsibilities, as well as EU provisions for the use of the funding.
T1.2 Joint Project Management Committee (JPMC).The JPMC will take care of all important activities to be undertaken in the project that include project planning, technical, administration and financial activities, It is proposed that JPMC be composed of the following: Project Director, 6 Institutional Project Coordinators (IPC), 3 Institutional Project Implementation Team (IPIT).The Project Director will be responsible for overall project coordination.
T1.3 Control and monitoring. For effective day to day administration and follow-up of project activities, there will be Institutional Project Coordinators (IPC) from each HEI. IPCs shall be responsible for overseeing all project activities assigned to their respective institutions. There will also be an Institutional Project Implementation Team (IPIT) lead by the IPC for each institution.
T1.4 Communication. Meetings to enable coordination of all tasks through:
– Monthly online meetings
– Face-to-face meetings during workshop or seminar
T1.5 Project management. The entire project will be managed through the management tool “Prosjektportalen 365”, and will generate data to the project management handbook:
- Work platform for all project documentation and outputs
- Archive system for all documentation to maintain institutional memory
- Risk assessment tool
- Project log
- Stakeholder registry
- Stakeholders affected by the project outcomes or can affect the projects outcomes
- Needs survey of stakeholders
- Communication plan
- Quality assurance
- Change analysis
- Implementation plans
- Documentation of minutes from meetings
- Reporting tool
- Communication platform between partners in the project with the TEAMS addon
WP2: Digital competency assessment
WP 2 Objectives
Main objective of WP2: To establish the digital literacy and data management skills needed by library practitioners and LIS students and measure the impact of interventions made in partner universities in Tanzania and Zambia. Specifically, the Work Package seeks to:
- Conduct a review of literature to establish a general understanding on digital literacy and data management capabilities needed by university librarians and LIS students in this age.
- Carry out baseline studies on digital literacy and data management capabilities among in-service librarians and LIS students from partner universities.
- Conduct a review of LIS curricula for non-degree and degree students from partner universities.
- Monitor the implementations of digital literacy and data management interventions for in-service librarians and LIS students to better support teaching, learning and research.
- Evaluate the impacts of interventions on the partner universities.
WP2 Lead Beneficiary
UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM (IMS) – Tanzania
WP2 Description
T2.1 Conducting literature review. Review of literature on digital literacy and data management competencies required in the contemporary LIS profession. This will be done to establish a point of reference for the review of LIS curricula and establishment of digital competency gaps among librarians and LIS students. The review will also be a guide for survey methodology selection and preparation of data collection instruments for task T1.4.
T2.2 Reviewing of LIS curricula. LIS curricula will be reviewed to identify strengths and weaknesses in relation to their sufficiency for equipping LIS students with adequate digital literacy competencies. The curricula will be gauged based on their content coverage, course duration, teaching resources, teaching methodologies, and assessment mechanisms.
T2.3 Conducting a survey of digital literacy and data management skills. The survey will be carried out to measure librarians and LIS students’ ability to use digital technologies to create, use, share, and evaluate information and data in the form of text, images and other formats. The survey is expected to highlight skills gaps existing among these individuals in relation to the need to strengthen relationships with faculty members and enhance discoverability of library content.
T2.4 Stakeholder engagement/Validation of digital literacy and data management gaps by stakeholders. Involving LIS
stakeholders from each country to validate gaps identified from the survey and review of LIS curricula.
T2.5 Prepare and apply monitoring tools for quarterly monitoring of training interventions. This task will involve the preparation of data collection tools for the baseline surveys, forms for monitoring, end of training tests and exams. These tools will be used to set a course for interventions and monitor their performances.
T2.6 Conduct end of year training impact evaluation. Evaluate the impacts of the digital literacy and data management
trainings on supporting teaching, learning and research amongst in-service librarians and LIS students.
T2.7 Conduct final training evaluation. Conduct the end of project evaluation to determine the impacts of the digital literacy and data management training on supporting teaching, learning and research amongst in-service librarians and LIS students.
WP3: Education and Research support
WP3 Objectives
The main objective of this Work Package is to empower in-service librarians and degree and non-degree students in
Library and Information Science with digital literacy and data management skills.
Specific objectives of the Work Package are:
- Develop digital literacy and data management curricula for in-service librarians from partner universities.
- Recommend digital literacy and data management course curricula and contents for LIS degree and non-degree students in partner universities.
- Develop interactive learning materials on digital literacy and data management for in-service librarians and LIS students.
- Conduct training of trainers and series of training for in-service librarians on use of digital technologies and data management to effectively support teaching, learning and research.
WP3 Lead Beneficiary
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) – Tanzania
WP3 Description
T3.1 Determine important contents to cover digital literacy and data management gaps from the work package 2 report. A review of the Work Package 2 report will be done to determine existing gaps in digital literacy amongst librarians and LIS students. Stakeholders in LIS from partner universities will be involved in validating digital literacy gaps.
T3.2 Develop digital literacy and data management curricula for in-service librarians. Two tailor made curricula (digital literacy and data management curriculum) will be developed for in-service librarians from partnering universities.
T3.3 Develop/revise curricula for LIS students for inclusion of digital literacy and data management topics. Curricula for data management and digital literacy will be developed or revised (if existing) to cope with current advancements in ICTs. The developed curricula or revisions made will be incorporated into the main LIS curricula. This will be made possible because both universities in Tanzania and Zambia have a policy of reviewing curriculum every after three years.
T3.4 Develop interactive learning materials on digital literacy and data management for in-service librarians and make the access through learning management system supporting MOOCs. Tailor made interactive learning materials for in-service librarians from partner universities will be developed. These materials will be developed based on the digital literacy gaps identified in Work Package 1. The learning materials will be for three levels: basic, intermediate and advanced where the basic level will aim at imparting basic digital literacy and data management skills among in service librarians. The other two levels aim at imparting advanced competencies in digital skills and data management skills that librarians can effectively support education and research.
T3.5 Develop interactive learning materials on digital literacy and data management for LIS students and make the access through learning management system supporting MOOCs. Interactive learning materials on digital literacy and data management for LIS students will be developed for LIS students from partner universities. These will be standard materials which will be adopted as learning materials among instructors teaching the two courses. To enhance adoption, potential instructors for the two courses will be involved in either developing or reviewing the developed contents.
T3.6 Conduct a series of training on digital literacy and data management. Digital literacy training will empower participants with technical skills that will enable them to serve library patrons in digital environments. Moreover, it will also enable participants to acquire digital technical skills for better data management. The blended approach (face-to face and online learning approaches) will be used in conducting training on digital literacy and data management for LIS professionals. The MOOCs will be adopted for facilitating online learning. A face-to-face training of trainers on digital literacy and data management will be conducted. It will be an intensive five days face-to-face training involving one key staff from each partner university. A series of face-to-face training on basic digital literacy and data management skills involving in-service librarians from partner universities will be conducted. Intermediate and advanced level training on digital literacy and data management will be through Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). Course assessment through online tests will be conducted after each training session. LIS students will enrol for courses on digital literacy and data management offered through MOOCs as supplement contents. Courses will be accessed through institutional learning management systems of partner universities. The project training coordination team will be responsible for managing student training and assessment. with managing how students use developed interactive course contents and set online tests as course assessments. The course contents developed for LIS students will be adopted as teaching materials for the LIS programme. This wil enhance sustainability and up datedness of the contents.
T3.7 Develop courses on inclusive services for librarians, lecturers and students. One course on inclusive services targeted at librarians.will be developed. The course will target librarians so that they know how to provide services to clients with disabilities and those with special needs.
WP4: Inclusion and equity
WP4 Objectives
The main objective of this WP is to minimise the social exclusion of students with disabilities in Zambia and Tanzania aiming at ensuring equal and fair learning opportunities for the already vulnerable groups who are not digitally literate or connected. The specific objectives are:
- Surveying the disability among library patrons to plan inclusive library services
- Develop library policies
- Development of tailor made course for librarians on inclusive library services (see WP 3, T3.7)
WP4 Lead Beneficiary
UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA (UNZA) – Zambia
WP4 Description
T4.1 Conduct a needs assessment. One needs assessment will be conducted in each of the partner institutionsin Tanzania and Zambia. The needs assessment will provide information on the number, and types of disabilities and infrastructural needs in partner institutions. Through this activity, relevant infrastructure to support students with disabilities will be identified to enhance equity in educational opportunities.
T4.2 Develop library policies that will ensure the aspirations of people living with disabilities are fulfilled. Consult constituencies within the participating universities and develop a policy document to pass through university levels of approval for it to become policy. One workshop per country will be conducted at each institution to validate the policy.
WP5: Infrastructural capacity
WP5 Objectives
The main objective of this WP is to update digital infrastructure in universities in Zambia and Tanzania, in order to ensure equal and fair learning opportunities to students with disabilities and those in remote regions. while the specific objective is;
- To maintain, sustain and mainstream digital library systems and learning laboratories
WP5 Lead Beneficiary
THE UNIVERSITY OF BAROTSELAND LIMITED (UBL) – Zambia
WP5 Description
T5.1 Acquisition and installation of computer software for laboratories in libraries for improving accessibility of information resources.
Purchase of 36 computers
Each campus Library will get 12 computers.
Purchase 16 laptops (4 per institution)
Installation, maintenance and insurance of equipment
This activity aims at improving the capacity of libraries in providing digital information and creating an enabling environment for training students, lecturers and researchers on usage of e-resources. Institutions must deliberately attach IT specialists to the project to ensure continuity after the project.
T5.2 Develop/improve institutional repositories (storage facilities).
An institutional repository is an online archive for collecting, preserving, and disseminating digital copies of the intellectual output of an institution, particularly a research institution (Khan, Sohrabzadeh & Jhamb, (2018). This activity involves acquiring and installing server machines, digital books archives, acquiring, installing and customising appropriate software in the servers for digital books and local e-journals; and developing protocols for usage of digital books and local ejournals, testing the system and sustaining it. Purchasing one 16gb and 2tb ram server computer (It is assumed that the rest of the institutions are already established)
1 x 2 tb Hard drives Discs for backup.
WP6: Blended mobility
WP6 Objectives
The broad aim of WP6 Blended Mobility is to bring together librarians, students and faculty at the partner institutions to
engage in activities and discussionsthat maximise the project’ssupport for knowledge sharing, collaborative learning and skill development, and teamwork. This aim will be carried out in physical and virtual spaces via workshops, seminars, exchange programmes and mobility programmes. The specific activities undertaken in WP5 shall support and extend the aims and objectives related to WP1-4 and WP6. This includes:
- Supporting the development of library and teaching staffs’ digital competencies (WP2)
- Curricula and courses for library staff and students (WP3)
- Accessibility and inclusion measures (WP4)
- Digital infrastructures in partner universities in Zambia and Tanzania through the implementation of learning
laboratories and related instruction (WP5). The knowledge gained and output produced from WP6 will be used to inform and provide content for the dissemination work of the project (WP7).
WP6 Lead Beneficiary
OSLOMET – STORBYUNIVERSITETET (OSLOMET) – Norway
WP6 Description
T6.1 Workshops in Tanzania and Zambia. Collaborative workshops will be held in which participants conduct a literacy and infrastructure assessment and work plan concerning:
Cost and Acquisition of library information systems and for hardware and other equipment (WP5)
Expansion of Internet and WIFI (WP5)
Establishment of learning laboratories and institutional repositories (WP5)
Tasks related to policy development (WP5)
Development of assistive technologies and facilities to support inclusion and equity (WP4)
Identify appropriate channels of dissemination (WP7)
Workshops will be held at the partner institutions in Zambia and Tanzania over a period of two weeks.
Visits will be made to partner institutions’ libraries to gain insights into the needs and contexts at each of the institutions.
Assessments from each institution will be included into the work plans.
During the workshops, university librarians along with workshop participants will work together to determine how to implement and prioritise the above-mentioned aims determined in the assessments. The workshops will result in work plans for each of the partner university libraries in Zambia and Tanzania.
Social activities (e.g., dinners and local sightseeing) will be planned to provide opportunities for networking building and informal information exchange.
T6.2 Seminar in Oslo A seminar will be held at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) for instruction on key areas related to the development of digital competencies. Seminar instructors will be from partner institutions. The seminar will focus on developing the university librarians’ competencies based on the baseline assessment of digital literacy skills among university librarians and LIS-students at partner institutions in Zambia and Tanzania (WP2).
Key areas in digital competencies will be covered at the seminar, including those related the management and use of learning management systems, academic databases, digital teaching platforms, institutional repositories, communication technologies and social media applications, and provision of universally accessible and inclusive library and information services (WP4, WP5). Development of curricula and interactive learning materials will also take place during the seminar (WP3).
The seminar will include a study trip to the university libraries at OsloMet. Participants will gain insights into the work being done related to information literacy practises, support for education and research, and open science. The seminar will take place over one week:
Day 1: Introduction & session on topics related to digital competencies
Day 2: Session on topics related to inclusion and accessibility
Day 3: Study visit to OsloMet libraries
Day 4 Session for developing curricula and interactive learning materials
Day 5 Interactive session for collaborative reassessment of participants’ digital competencies and project and seminar evaluation.
Participant feedback on progress to date will be included in the final evaluation. The activities and outcomes of the seminar will be disseminated through appropriate channels (WP7).
Social activities (e.g., dinners and local sightseeing) will be planned to provide opportunities for networking building and informal information exchange.
T6.3 Librarian Exchange at INN in Norway and in UJ Poland
Immediately following T6.2 Seminar at OsloMet will be short-term librarian exchanges with librarians from partner institutions in Tanzania and Zambia. The aim of the exchanges is to further facilitate knowledge exchange between the partner institutions and development of librarians’ digital competency skills in key areas through involvement in practice and participation in relevant courses offered by the libraries.
The exchange period will last two weeks with one week at INN in Norway and one week at UJ in Poland. Areas of focus will be on the management and use of learning management systems, academic databases, digital teaching platforms, institutional repositories, communication technologies and social media applications as well as the provision of universally accessible and inclusive information services (WP3, WP4).
T6.4 Online Seminar Series.
OsloMet will host five online seminars (two per year). LIS faculty and professionals will present current research and/ or work being done on related topics. Topics chosen for the series will be relevant to WP1-4. The seminar series will be incorporated into the dissemination work of the project (WP6). The seminars will be for library staff, LIS-faculty, researchers, and students at partner institutions and other interested researchers or professionals.
Time will be allotted for participants and presenters to discuss and ask questions about the topic presented and to share related work and projects being done at their universities. Time will be allotted for participants and presenters to discuss and ask questions about the topic presented and to share the related work and projects being done at their universities. This will facilitate multidirectional knowledge exchange and development of professional networks.
T6.5 Concluding Seminar (Online)
Two half-day seminars to conclude the project
The seminars will include:
• A guest speaker
• An overall review of the project and summarising presentations of each of the work packages
• Focussed discussions for reflecting on the overall success of the project, learning outcomes, current challenges, and possibilities for continuation of the work. Results from training sessions and evaluation of courses will be discussed. Reflections and comments will be documented and included in the final assessment of the project.
• Acknowledgements and a final farewell session
WP7: Dissemination and sustainability
WP7 Objectives
The main objectives of this Work Package are to:
- Communicate the project and its results during and beyond its lifecycle to different audiences, including academic librarians, LIS (and related) faculty and students, as well as any other interested in digital competencies, academic information literacy and open accessto scholarly information, HE development and quality, and international cooperation for the inclusive education and society,
- Fully utilise the project achievements in a multidimensional way and in different contexts.
WP7 Lead Beneficiary
UNIWERSYTET JAGIELLONSKI (UJ) – Poland
WP7 Description
T7.1 Creating a consistent strategy and action plan for the project communication, dissemination of its outcomes and their sustainability This task involves creating a consistent strategy and action plan for effective information dissemination of the project and its achievements to different audiences, including academic librarians, LIS faculty and students in Norway, Poland, Tanzania and Zambia, the wider community interested in digital competencies, development of academic library services and access to scholarly information, also for students with fewer opportunities, quality of higher education, LIS and related areas, as well as Sub-Saharan matters. Proper communication and dissemination ensure that experiences, knowledge and competence obtained in the project can be shared with a wide audience to assure the long-term impact of the project.
The strategy will integrate the four main channels of dissemination, i.e. the project website and social media communication (WP7), teaching/learning activities (courses of different types, one-to-one instruction) (WP3), meetings (conferences, seminars, workshops) (WP6), as well as publication of research papers in open access and other scholarly journals.
This task involves, inter alia, discussing and deciding:
How long should the project website be actively maintained after the project completion?
How to sustain a created network of project members (and other entities) for future cooperation in the field of academic and digital literacy and beyond?
How to take a long term advantage of the project results?
In addition an action plan for dissemination will be developed and updated during the project life span.
T7.2 Developing and maintaining the webpage for project description, current communication and sustainability of its results This activity involves:
- choosing the right internet platform for the project webpage,
- deciding what content should be published on the webpage,
- creating its structure and basic content according to the principles of SEO, UX and WCAG 2.1, to ensure its accessibility for all, user friendliness and discoverability,
- updating its content on the current, ongoing basis during the timespan of the project,
- maintaining the webpage after the completion of the project.
T7.3 Communicating the project and its outcomes via other channels This activity embraces communicating and disseminating information about the project outcomes via other channels, including:
- the Erasmus+ Project Result Platform https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects_en,
- EPALE – ElectronicPlatform for Adult Learning in Europe https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en (e.g. by sharing good practises and Open Educational Resources resulting from the project),
- selected social media (to provide current, user-friendly information about the project, its development and actions, to reach wider audiences and the general public).