NIAGARA Project

The main aim of “Navigating the digital landscape: Universities partnering for change” (NIAGARA) is to utilise the partnership between universities in Norway, Poland, Tanzania and Zambia to improve and expand their library and information services by developing the respective libraries’ digital infrastructures, primarily in Tanzania and Zambia, and improving librarians’ digital competencies across all partners.
The primary target groups are the academic librarians, library, and information science (LIS) students in Tanzania and Zambia. LIS students receive relevant skills and training to work as librarians, data analysts, web content analysts, digital archivists, editors, information managers, records managers, information architects, desktop publishers, and knowledge management specialists. As they enter the workforce, their digital competencies will play a crucial role in closing the digital divide and ensuring the continued support for inclusion and equity. Additional target beneficiaries are all students and faculty members (including those with fewer opportunities) working at HEIs in the noted countries.

The specific objectives of the project are as follows:

1. To strengthen the digital infrastructure in partner university libraries in Tanzania and Zambia that will benefit all students and staff and ensure inclusive and equal access to library and information services.
2. To examine current digital competencies needed for efficient provision of library and information services amongst academic librarians and LIS students in Tanzania and Zambia
3. To develop and implement short-term courses for librarians and LIS students aimed at improving their digital competencies related the provision of library and information services

The description of activities and work packages (WP) planned to be implemented is:

1. WP1: Project Management
2. WP2: Digital competency assessment
3. WP3: Education and Research support
4. WP4: Inclusion and equity
5. WP5: Infrastructural capacity
6. WP6: Blended mobility
7. WP7: Dissemination and sustainability

The NIAGARA project partner institutions include (in alphabetical order):

1. Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway (INN)
2. Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland (UJ)
3. Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway (OsloMet)
4. Sokoine Agricultural University, Tanzania (SUA)
5. University of Barotseland, Zambia (UBL)
6. University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (UDSM)
7. University of Zambia, Zambia (UNZA)

SUA coordinates Work package 3: Education and Research support.

The coordinator for this project at SUA is Prof. Wulystan Pius Mtega