University Education in Digital Humanities for Information Professionals

Abstract

Purpose/Thesis: The article presents the concept of university course in digital humanities for future information professionals. Approach/Methods: The concept of university course in digital humanities draws on the author’s deep knowledge of digital humanities as well as the particular models of research project lifecycle. The concept consists of three elements: the description of educational aims, the graduate’s profile, and the learning outcomes. Results and conclusions: The author proposes that university course in digital humanities should be provided as a part of specialization within a Master program for information professionals. Classes will give students a basic knowledge of a given discipline in the humanities and the theoretical aspects of digital humanities, as well as its structure and history. Students will also learn about information and knowledge organization, digital sources used in humanities, information systems, digital collections, research data management, and scholarly editions. Graduates would be equipped to work at research institutions running digital humanities projects or providing research infrastructure for digital humanists, e.g. academic libraries, museums, archives, digital humanities centers and laboratories. Practical implications: The concept may be used to prepare a detailed program of specialization by faculties offering information science programs. Although the concept has been developed in the context of Polish higher education, it can be modified and adapted successfully in other countries, especially in the EU countries which, like Poland, need to meet the European Qualifications Framework. Originality/Value: Formal university course in digital humanities for information professionals is not very common. The concept of a specialization within a Master program proposed in this article fills this gap so that a new generation of librarians and other information professionals will become more proficient intermediaries between humanists and information.