| dc.description.abstract | Information literacy (IL) competency is a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes towards
recognizing when and why information is needed where to find, how to evaluate, manage and
apply it, synthesize, use and communicate it ethically.
Information literacy (IL) competencies are relevant in today's information age. This is because
they influence the ease with which students can access or retrieve pertinent information to promote
good academic outcomes. This research examined the information literacy (IL) competencies of
MBA students at Makerere University Business School (MUBS). The objectives of the study were:
i) to establish the information literacy needs of MUBS master of business administration students;
ii) to establish the IL competency acquired from the existing IL training programme offered by
MUBS library to MBA students; iii) to establish the contribution of IL competencies in the access
and utilisation of information resources offered by MUBS library to MBA students and iv) to
identify the setbacks in the effective provision of information literacy programmes by MUBS
library to MBA students.
A case study research design was used for this study with a mixed methods research approach. The
study population was composed of 47 people who were all adopted as the sample size using census
sampling. Data collection methods used to collect data included interviews and self-administered
closed-ended questionnaires.
The findings from the study revealed several IL needs for MBA students as; regular IL instructions
on library use, computer training, and information search skills, research skills, referencing,
citation and ethical use of information. It was also revealed that the majority of MBA students
acquired skills of identifying information needs and very few acquired other skills like locating
information needed, evaluating and search skills. The study further revealed the contributions of
ILC as; access to relevant information, independent search and computer use. Several setbacks
such as unstable internet connectivity, lack of IL policy poor search skills, lack of awareness and
unstable power supple were established from the study.
It was concluded that many MBA students lack the skills needed to effectively organise and
critically evaluate research. It was further concluded that there was inadequate IL training for
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postgraduate students, especially on search strategy and hence reflecting the low level of search
strategies as well possessing marginal knowledge of IL skills and knowledge among students.
Additionally, while awareness of the availability of the various library information resources was
another IL competence which has enabled some of the MBA students to use the library information
materials, many students were not aware of the available information resources as well as lacked
basic ICT skills. Lastly, the various setbacks to effective provision of IL programmes affected the
IL competencies of MBA students at MUBS.
Based on the conclusions, it was recommended that MBA students at MUBS should receive
training in IL search and evaluation skills from qualified personnel. It was also recommended that
the MUBS librarian in partnership with the relevant stakeholders should develop an IL policy to
guide IL implementation, design and teaching activities. It was further recommended MBA
students should receive digital literacy training and be informed of the available information
materials by the relevant stakeholders. Lastly, MUBS' management to resolve the challenges
affecting the effective provision of IL competencies of MBA students at MUBS such as recruiting
qualified staff, training students and improving the internet connectivity. | en_US |
