MENTORING, KNOWLEDGE SHARING, ICT VERSATILITY AS INFLUENCING FACTORS ON RESEARCH PRODUCTIVITY AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT OF LIS EDUCATORS

Abstract

The paper examined the importance of mentoring, knowledge sharing and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) versatility as influencing factors on the research productivity and career advancement of Library and Information Science (LIS) educators. The nexus among knowledge sharing, mentoring and ICT versatility as influencing factors on research productivity and career advancement of LIS educators was equally established. Promotion, career advancement and job progression of faculty including Library and Information Science (LIS) educators is usually hinged on their research productivity amongst other factors. In this digital age, the worth of an institution could easily be measured by accessing her productivity. The major currency that is well known in the digital economy is ICT. ICT versatility and proficiency will be a great advantage for all who possess it in the age. Sharing of knowledge could be horizontal, vertical and circular. Knowledge sharing leads to inculcation of eye opening ideas, gems of doing things better, and creativity. A very useful platform where knowledge sharing and ICT versatility could serve as influencing tools to the research productivity and career advancement of LIS educators is mentoring. Mentoring is a way of showing others how things are done properly so that when the mentor is not around the mentees can act in the same way that their mentor would have acted. With proper mentoring, effective knowledge sharing would fall in line and if coupled with ICT versatility would under normal circumstances influence the research productivity and career advancement of LIS educators.