Library Training Outputs and Social Requirements: A Case Study in a Mekong Delta University, Vietnam

Abstract

This study aims at determining the social requirements and evaluating the employer satisfaction on the librarianship undergraduates of a Mekong Delta university in Vietnam. Based on conceptual framework of ASEAN University Network - Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) program assessment, this research was conducted using a mixed-methods approach (surveying 53 employers and interviewing 20 library and information leaders who recruited Library and Information Management undergraduates). The online survey was conducted and analysed first to get emerging theme for constructing the questions of individual interviews. The purposes of individual interviews are to gain more in-depth information about what employer comments on library training outcomes and their requirements on librarianship undergraduates. SPSS was used to analysed quantitative data from the online survey. Frequency, descriptive, comparison and correlations between variables were used to identify employer satisfaction on library

anship undergraduates as well as their requirements on knowledge, capacity and skills to meet the social needs. Qualitative data from online survey and interviews were added into NVivo for coding to define the emerging themes for thematical analysis. Employer satisfaction was investigated through four aspects: library professional knowledge, ICT application skills and knowledge, management skills and knowledge adapted to the organisation requirement. Librarianship undergraduates were acquired to possess eight groups of knowledge, capacities and skills. They are communication skills, teamwork skills, and independent study skills, skills of organising and analysing information, skills of providing information, ICT skills, management skills and general knowledge. These findings not only help improve the quality of library education but also contribute to enriching reference resources for the library and information training units of the country and worldwide.