The development of archives and records management education and training in Africa – challenges and opportunities

  • Shadrack Katuu
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01576895.2015.1050677
Keywords: Africa, impact of colonisation, International Council on Archives, Kenya, UNESCO, university education and training

Abstract

The development of education and training opportunities for professionals in the archives and records management (ARM) profession in Africa has been the subject of a number of professional discussions in the past. However, a significant number of recent developments and trends have not been captured in these discussions. This article provides a historical outline and some of the major developments of ARM education and training in Africa. In addition, it traces some of the key challenges educators and trainers currently face. The article demonstrates the diversity that exists in the African continent both in the variety of institutions and the types of qualifications offered in archives and records management. It provides a glimpse of the growth of universities in the continent using the case study of Kenya. While this growth provides greater education and training opportunities, there is a need to examine its impact on quality. The article suggests the strengthening of graduate-level education as well as participation in global research to mitigate against risks in the quality of ARM education and training.

Author Biography

Shadrack Katuu

Mr Shadrack Katuu completed his undergraduate studies in Kenya and graduate studies at the University of British Columbia in Canada. He is currently Head of the Records Unit at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Before that, he was an archives/records officer at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC and also served as the manager of information systems at Nelson Mandela’s post-presidential office at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg. He was a full-time lecturer at the University of Botswana as well as a guest lecturer in different universities in Barbados, Canada, China, South Africa and the United States. He has recently completed his doctoral studies with the Department of Information Science at the University of South Africa.

Published
2015-07-03
How to Cite
Katuu S. (2015) “The development of archives and records management education and training in Africa – challenges and opportunities”, Archives & Manuscripts, 43(2), pp. 96-119. doi: 10.1080/01576895.2015.1050677.
Issue
Vol 43 No 2 (2015)
Section
Articles

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