This study clarifies the extent to which Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals are currently required to have quality-assured academic degrees when applying for international jobs.
The data are drawn from LIBJOBS, which is managed by The International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA). Investigations have been conducted in North America, which has an accreditation system for LIS programs, and in other regions worldwide.
The findings show that an LIS Masterʼs degree is generally a prerequisite for LIS professional roles in the international job market in all regions apart from Europe. However, the extent to which employers require quality-assured academic degrees varies from region to region.
For instance, a higher percentage of LIS professional roles require Masterʼs degrees accredited by the American Library Association (ALA) in the Middle East, where many US-oriented branch campuses have been built, than in other regions. Some emerging institutions and institutions in developing countries require an ALA-accredited degree as a recognized international equivalent qualification; requiring this degree raises the profile of these institutions among highly qualified professionals in the international community. When diverse experience is desired, however, quality-assured degrees are not mandatory during recruitment.
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