Archival science as an interdisciplinary study, and archival education

Abstract

In Korea archival science is termed ‘Record Studies’, which cover both records and archival administration. The author has recently been involved in a consulting project for establishing a records management system for a major Korean firm. Thereby he came to realize the practical and interdisciplinary nature of records and archival administration. Based on that experience, the author makes two important points about archive education programmes. First, it is argued that lectures with appropriate coursework should stand at their core, as well as offering hands-on experience, for example, in the area of computer applications in order to improve the students’ general practical abilities. Secondly, it is argued that cumulative experience in record keeping in every sphere of society and the analysis of that experience from a scientific perspective is indispensable for the further development of archival science as the very basis of archive education. For the purposes of that development, it is stressed that we should promote interdisciplinary studies in related fields such as systems engineering, business administration, history, library-information science, jurisprudence and public administration. Archives education programmes would profit much from the fruits of such academic pursuits.