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Exploitation	
  Strategy	
  
Author:	
  	
                     Sabina	
  Cisek	
  
Contributing	
  Authors:	
  	
   Carla	
  Basili,	
  Monika	
  Krakowska,	
  Carol	
  Priestley,	
  Maria	
  Próchnicka,	
  	
  
                                 Magdalena	
  Wójcik,	
  Bulent	
  Yilmaz	
  	
  
	
  


                                                                                                                                               Ver:	
  0.3	
  




                                                                                                                                                                 	
  
                          This	
  project	
  has	
  been	
  funded	
  with	
  support	
  from	
  the	
  European	
  Commission	
  	
   1	
  
         	
               	
  
                          	
  
 
                                                              	
  
                                                              	
  
                                                              	
  
                                                              	
  
                                                              	
  
                                                              	
  
Empower Autonomous Learning through Information Competencies
                                                                         	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

Exploitation	
  Strategy	
  
	
  
Author:	
  	
   Sabina	
  Cisek,	
  	
  
Contributing	
  Authors:	
  	
   Carla	
  Basili,	
  Monika	
  Krakowska,	
  Carol	
  Priestley,	
  Maria	
  
                                 Próchnicka,	
  Magdalena	
  Wójcik,	
  Bulent	
  Yilmaz	
  	
  


	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
This	
  project	
  has	
  been	
  funded	
  with	
  support	
  from	
  the	
  European	
  Commission	
  
	
  
This	
  publication	
  reflects	
  the	
  views	
  only	
  of	
  the	
  authors,	
  and	
  the	
  Commission	
  cannot	
  be	
  held	
  
responsible	
  for	
  any	
  use	
  which	
  may	
  be	
  made	
  of	
  the	
  information	
  contained	
  therein	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
                                              	
  
                                              	
  
                                              	
  


                                                                                                                                           2	
  

	
  
 

EXECUTIVE	
  SUMMARY	
  
	
  
The	
  present	
  report	
  constitutes	
  the	
  delivery	
  D7.1	
  of	
  the	
  Work	
  Package	
  7:	
  Exploitation	
  strategy.	
  	
  
The	
  core	
  objectives	
  of	
  the	
  EMPATIC	
  project	
  are	
  to:	
  
       1. draw	
   together	
   and	
   valorise	
   the	
   results	
   of	
   previous	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   initiatives	
   and	
  
          projects	
  across	
  the	
  school,	
  university,	
  adult	
  and	
  vocational	
  learning	
  sectors;	
  	
  
       2. use	
  this	
  evidence	
  to	
  influence	
  policy	
  makers’	
  perceptions	
  and	
  actions	
  to	
  support	
  a	
  marked	
  
          increase	
  in	
  piloting	
  and	
  mainstreaming	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy;	
  
       3. have	
   a	
   significant	
   impact	
   on	
   validating	
   new	
   learning	
   paradigms	
   and	
   strategic	
   thinking	
   on	
  
          curriculum	
  reform.	
  
Within	
  the	
  work	
  plan	
  of	
  EMPATIC,	
  the	
  Work	
  Package	
  7	
  is	
  aimed	
  to	
  provide	
  a	
  strategy	
  and	
  set	
  of	
  
recommendations	
   setting	
   out	
   ways	
   and	
   means	
   to	
   improve	
   the	
   spread	
   and	
   level	
   of	
   Information	
  
Literacy	
  at	
  both	
  transversal	
  level	
  and	
  across	
  the	
  four	
  sectors.	
  
It	
   also	
   proposes	
   a	
   future	
   means	
   of	
   stakeholder	
   community	
   ownership	
   and	
   maintenance	
   of	
   the	
  
portal	
  environment.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  




                                                                                                                                                    3	
  

	
  
 
TABLE	
  OF	
  CONTENTS	
  	
  	
  

EXECUTIVE	
  SUMMARY	
  .................................................................................................................	
  3	
  

SECTION	
  1:	
  INTRODUCTION	
  .........................................................................................................	
  5	
  

SECTION	
  2:	
  STRATEGY	
  ..................................................................................................................	
  6	
  
2.1.	
  	
   EmPatic	
  impact	
  and	
  sustainability	
  ..........................................................................................	
  6	
  
2.2.	
  	
   strategy	
  of	
  il	
  promotion	
  ....................................................................................................	
  7	
  

SECTION	
  3:	
  SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  
                                    .................................................................................................	
  7	
  
3.1.	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  SCHOOL	
  SECTOR	
  ...........................	
  7	
  
3.2.	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  HIGHER	
  EDUCATION	
  SECTOR	
  ........	
  8	
  
3.3	
  	
     SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  VOCATIONAL	
  EDUCATION	
  AND	
  
              TRAINING	
  SECTOR	
  ...................................................................................................................	
  9	
  
3.4	
  	
     SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  ADULT	
  EDUCATION	
  /	
  LIFELONG	
  
              LEARNING	
  SECTOR	
  ................................................................................................................	
  10	
  

SECTION	
  4:	
  RECOMMENDATIONS	
  TO	
  POLICY	
  MAKERS	
  ...............................................................	
  11	
  
4.1	
  	
     CONTEXT	
  ...............................................................................................................................	
  12	
  
4.2	
  	
     Information	
  Literacy	
  in	
  the	
  school	
  learning	
  sector	
  –Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  
              Comenius	
  programme	
  area)	
  .................................................................................................	
  15	
  
4.3	
  	
     Informtioan	
  Literacy	
  in	
  the	
  Higher	
  Education	
  learning	
  sector	
  (HE)	
  Recommendations	
  to	
  
              Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  Erasmus	
  programme	
  area)	
  .....................................................................	
  16	
  
4.4	
  	
     Information	
  Literacy	
  in	
  the	
  vocational	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  sector	
  (VET)	
  
              Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  Leonardo	
  da	
  Vinci	
  programme	
  area)	
  ..................	
  17	
  
4.5	
  	
     Information	
  Literacy	
  in	
  the	
  adult	
  learning	
  sector	
  –	
  Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  
              grundtvig	
  programme	
  area)	
       ..................................................................................................	
  18	
  
4.6.	
  	
   Information	
  Literacy	
  in	
  the	
  four	
  learning	
  sectors	
  (school,	
  higher	
  education,	
  vocational	
  
             education	
  and	
  training,	
  and	
  adult/lifelong	
  learning)	
  –	
  General,	
  Non-­‐sector	
  Specific	
  
             Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  made	
  by	
  the	
  final	
  conferences	
  participants	
  ...............	
  19	
  

5.	
  	
  CONCLUSIONS	
  
                     .......................................................................................................................	
  20	
  

REFERENCES	
  ..............................................................................................................................	
  21	
  

	
  




                                                                                                                                                               4	
  

	
  
 

SECTION	
  1:	
  INTRODUCTION	
  	
  
	
  
The	
   present	
   text	
   constitutes	
   the	
   Deliverable	
  7.1	
   of	
   the	
   Work	
   Package	
   7	
  of	
   the	
   EMPATIC	
   project.	
  It	
  
utilises	
  the	
  results	
  of	
  all	
  of	
  the	
  project’s	
  work	
  and	
  evidence	
  gained	
  to	
  date	
  in	
  formulating	
  a	
  set	
  of	
  
recommendations	
   to	
   policy	
   makers	
   about	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   (IL).	
   The	
   main	
   purpose	
   of	
   those	
  
recommendations	
  is	
  to	
  stimulate	
  action	
  at	
  national	
  levels.	
  	
  
The	
   EMPATIC	
   project	
   is	
   funded	
   under	
   the	
   EU	
   Lifelong	
   Learning	
   Programme	
   (LLP)	
   and	
   has	
   a	
  
transversal	
   nature.	
   Consequently,	
   the	
   present	
   document	
   exposes	
   the	
   educational	
   side	
   of	
   the	
  
Information	
   Literacy	
   development	
   and	
   takes	
   into	
   account	
   four	
   learning	
   sectors	
   encompassed	
   by	
  
LLP,	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  four	
  ongoing	
  sectoral	
  programmes,	
  that	
  is	
  school	
  (Comenius),	
  higher	
  education	
  
(Erasmus),	
  vocational	
  (Leonardo	
  da	
  Vinci)	
  and	
  adult	
  (Grundtvig)	
  ones.	
  	
  
The	
   Deliverable	
   7.1,	
   embraces	
   the	
   IL-­‐related	
   strategy	
   and	
   recommendations,	
   is	
   aimed	
   at	
   setting	
  
out	
  ways	
  and	
  means	
  to	
  improve	
  the	
  spread	
  and	
  level	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  at	
  both	
  transversal	
  
level	
  and	
  across	
  the	
  four	
  learning	
  sectors.	
  	
  
As	
   it	
   makes	
   a	
   part	
   of	
   the	
   larger	
   work	
   and	
   should	
   be	
   read	
   together	
   with	
   the	
   previous	
   EMPATIC	
  
products,	
  in	
  particular	
  –	
  the	
  Deliverable	
  1.1,	
  where	
  the	
  concept	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  (IL)	
  itself	
  
has	
  been	
  discussed	
  and	
  defined.	
  Also,	
  in	
  the	
  Deliverable	
  1.1,	
  entitled	
  “Report	
  on	
  current	
  state	
  and	
  
best	
   practices	
   in	
   Information	
   Literacy”,	
   various	
   aspects,	
   dimensions	
   and	
   levels	
   of	
   IL	
   have	
   been	
  
meticulously	
  characterized	
  on	
  the	
  basis	
  of	
  the	
  extensive	
  literature	
  research.	
  	
  
In	
   addition,	
   EMPATIC	
   hosted	
   two	
   events	
   for	
   the	
   IL	
   stakeholders	
   and	
   policy	
   makers	
   (academics,	
  
educators,	
   IL	
   authors,	
   information	
   professionals,	
   librarians,	
   school	
   and	
   HE	
   authorities,	
   teachers,	
  
etc.)	
  to	
  verify	
  findings	
  and	
  recommendations.	
  	
  
The	
  first	
  one	
  was	
  the	
  International	
  Conference	
  “Literacy	
  and	
  Society,	
  Culture,	
  Media,	
  &	
  Education”	
  
[http://www.literacyconference2012.ugent.be/],	
   held	
   on	
   9-­‐11	
   February	
   2012	
   in	
   Ghent,	
   Belgium,	
  
and	
  organized	
  by	
  the	
  Department	
  of	
  Educational	
  Studies	
  of	
  Ghent	
  University	
  in	
  cooperation	
  with	
  
the	
  EMPATIC	
  and	
  EMSOC	
  (User	
  Empowerment	
  in	
  a	
  Social	
  Media	
  Culture,	
  http://emsoc.be/)	
  teams.	
  	
  
The	
   second	
   one,	
   that	
   of	
   the	
   Final	
   Conference,	
   was	
   organized	
   in	
   conjunction	
   with	
   EMMILE	
   (the	
  
European	
   Meeting	
   on	
   Media	
   and	
   Information	
   Literacy,	
   http://emmile.wordpress.com/)	
   in	
   Milan,	
  
Italy	
  on	
  27-­‐29	
  February	
  2012.	
  	
  
This	
   paper	
   consists	
   of	
   the	
   four	
   sections,	
   although	
   the	
   ones	
   of	
   main	
   importance	
   are	
   the	
   sections	
  
“Summary	
  Findings”	
  and	
  “Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers”.	
  	
  
	
  




                                                                                                                                                                5	
  

	
  
 

SECTION	
  2:	
  STRATEGY	
  	
  
	
  
In	
  Section	
  2	
  we	
  discuss	
  two	
  interrelated	
  but	
  not	
  dissimilar	
  issues,	
  that	
  is:	
  	
  
            •      How	
   to	
   properly	
   exploit	
   findings	
   of	
   the	
   EMPATIC	
   project	
   after	
   it	
   is	
   completed?	
   What	
  
                   steps	
  can	
  be	
  taken	
  for	
  continued	
  sustainability	
  and	
  impact	
  of	
  EMPATIC?	
  How	
  to	
  make	
  
                   its	
  results	
  lastingly	
  useful	
  for	
  1)	
  general	
  public	
  and	
  2)	
  specified	
  target	
  groups?	
  	
  
            •      How	
  to	
  promote	
  the	
  importance	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  to	
  policy	
  makers?	
  	
  What	
  kind	
  
                   of	
  strategy	
  needs	
  to	
  be	
  implemented	
  in	
  this	
  respect?	
  	
  
	
  
2.1.	
  	
   EMPATIC	
  IMPACT	
  AND	
  SUSTAINABILITY	
  	
  
The	
  means	
  and	
  ways	
  to	
  ensure	
  continued	
  sustainability	
  and	
  impact	
  of	
  EMPATIC	
  are	
  as	
  follows:	
  	
  
2.1.1 The	
  EMPATIC	
  official	
  website	
  http://empat-­‐ic.eu/	
  and	
  other	
  webpages	
  and	
  blogs	
  related	
  to	
  
      the	
  project	
  should	
  be	
  maintained	
  and	
  updated	
  also	
  after	
  the	
  EMPATIC	
  project	
  is	
  formally	
  
      completed.	
  	
  	
  	
  
EMPATIC	
  PMB	
  members	
  discussed	
  this	
  point	
  very	
  carefully.	
  	
  Two	
  possible	
  hosts	
  became	
  possible	
  
to	
  consider:	
  
           a) European	
   network	
   for	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   (EnIL):	
   coordinated	
   by	
   one	
   of	
   the	
   EMPATIC	
  
              project	
  partners	
  CERIS,	
  and	
  
           b) the	
  European	
  Conference	
  for	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  (ECIL)	
  –	
  a	
  new	
  informal	
  association	
  
              of	
   significant	
   persons	
   and	
   institutions	
   committed	
   to	
   IL,	
   with	
   the	
   intention	
   to	
   host	
   an	
  
              annual	
   conference	
   to	
   discuss	
   issues	
   emerging	
   as	
   important	
   or	
   to	
   be	
   resolved	
   in	
   the	
  
              field.	
  
After	
   considering	
   all	
   aspects,	
   the	
   PMB	
   selected	
   EnIL	
   as	
   the	
   future	
   host	
   of	
   the	
   website.	
  	
  
Familiarisation	
  and	
  training	
  was	
  provided	
  by	
  MDR	
  and	
  the	
  maintenance	
  of	
  the	
  website	
  transferred	
  
to	
  EnIL	
  in	
  March	
  2012.	
  	
  	
  
2.1.2 Project	
   members	
   will	
   write	
   articles	
   related	
   to	
   EMPATIC	
   and	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   and	
  
      publish	
  them	
  in	
  professional/scholarly	
  journals	
  or	
  collective	
  works,	
  in	
  different	
  languages,	
  
      not	
  only	
  English.	
  	
  
2.1.3 Project	
  members	
  will	
  take	
  part	
  in	
  the	
  appropriate	
  national	
  and	
  international	
  conferences	
  
      speaking	
  about	
  EMPATIC-­‐related	
  matters.	
  At	
  the	
  time	
  of	
  writing	
  this	
  report,	
  events	
  where	
  
      the	
   findings	
   and	
   recommendations	
   of	
   EMPATIC	
   will	
   be	
   promoted	
   and	
   discussed	
   already	
  
      include:	
  	
  
              • QQML4	
  in	
  Limerick,	
  Ireland,	
  May	
  2012	
  	
  
              • The	
   Road	
   to	
   Information	
   Literacy:	
   Librarians	
   as	
   Facilitators	
   of	
   Learning,	
   IFLA	
   Satellite	
  
                meeting	
  in	
  Tampere,	
  Finland,	
  August	
  8,	
  9,	
  10,	
  2012	
  	
  
              • World	
  Congress	
  on	
  Libraries	
  and	
  Information	
  (WLIC),	
  14-­‐18th	
  August	
  2012,	
  Helsinki	
  
              • Media	
  &	
  Learning	
  Conference	
  2012,	
  14-­‐15	
  November,	
  Brussels	
  
              • Collaboration	
  with	
  organizations	
  interested	
  in	
  the	
  IL	
  development,	
  both	
  international,	
  
                including	
  UNESCO,	
  and	
  national	
  like	
  Komisja	
  Edukacji	
  Informacyjnej	
  SBP	
  in	
  Poland.	
  	
  	
  	
  


                                                                                                                                                           6	
  

	
  
 
A	
  meeting	
  with	
  UNESCO	
  and	
  IFLA	
  has	
  been	
  planned	
  for	
  14	
  August	
  2012,	
  where	
  discussion	
  will	
  take	
  
place	
   on	
   collaboration	
   between	
   the	
   UNESCO	
   work	
   in	
   curriculum	
   and	
   IL	
   indicators	
   and	
   potential	
  
EMPATIC	
  work	
  in	
  the	
  area	
  of	
  policy.	
  
	
  
2.2.	
  	
   STRATEGY	
  OF	
  IL	
  PROMOTION	
  	
  
As	
   many	
   organizations	
   are	
   involved	
   in	
   the	
   field	
   of	
   IL,	
   a	
   number	
   of	
   additional	
   measures	
   to	
   increase	
  
the	
   involvement	
   of	
   communities,	
   Government,	
   academic,	
   non-­‐profit,	
   and	
   different	
   social	
   groups	
  
through	
  activities	
  can	
  be	
  employed.	
  These	
  should	
  have	
  the	
  aims	
  to:	
  
           • 	
  	
   provide	
   a	
  forum	
  for	
  discussion	
  and	
  for	
  advice	
  to	
  decision	
  makers,	
  committees,	
  or	
  other	
  
                executive	
  boards;	
  
           • 	
  	
   inform	
  and	
  advise	
  on	
  behalf	
  of	
  decision	
  makers,	
  including	
  development	
  of	
  good	
  practice	
  
                and	
  providing	
  expertise;	
  
           • 	
  	
   assist	
  practitioners	
  in	
  developing	
  policy	
  and	
  practice	
  and	
  stimulates	
  further	
  development	
  
                of	
  policy	
  and	
  strategic	
  thinking;	
  
           • 	
  	
   provide	
  a	
  route	
  for	
  communicating	
  with	
  IL	
  interests	
  and	
  professional	
  groups.	
  

	
  
	
  

SECTION	
  3:	
  SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  	
  
	
  
In	
   Section	
   3	
   we	
   discuss	
   summary	
   findings	
   of	
   the	
   entire	
   EMPATIC	
   project	
   (desk	
   research,	
  
discussions,	
  four	
  sectoral	
  validation	
  workshops,	
  two	
  international	
  final	
  conferences).	
  	
  
	
  
3.1.	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  SCHOOL	
  SECTOR	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   process,	
   the	
   important	
   issues	
   for	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   (IL)	
   in	
   the	
  
Schools	
  Sector	
  have	
  been	
  identified	
  to	
  include:	
  
       •   IL	
  development	
  strategies	
  in	
  European	
  countries	
  are	
  “taken-­‐for-­‐granted”	
  but	
  valid	
  IL	
  policy	
  
           assumptions	
  do	
  not	
  necessarily	
  exist;	
  
       •   a	
   detailed	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   strategy	
   is	
   needed.	
   However,	
   educational	
   systems,	
  
           information	
  cultures,	
  and	
  experiences	
  with	
  IL	
  development	
  in	
  every	
  EU	
  country	
  are	
  different,	
  
           so	
   what	
   works	
   in	
   one	
   part	
   of	
   Europe	
   may	
   not	
   work	
   in	
   the	
   other.	
   As	
   a	
   result	
   it	
   would	
   be	
  
           better	
   to	
   formulate	
   European	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   standards	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
   learning	
   outcomes;	
  
           these	
   would	
   identify	
   a	
   set	
   of	
   IL	
   goals	
   to	
   be	
   achieved	
   in	
   different	
   appropriate	
   ways	
   and	
   by	
  
           various	
   means	
   within	
   formal,	
   informal	
   and	
   non-­‐formal	
   learning	
   environments.	
   In	
   other	
  
           words,	
   the	
   aims	
   of	
   IL	
   should	
   be	
   the	
   same	
   across	
   Europe	
   in	
   general,	
   but	
   IL	
   development	
  
           strategies	
  need	
  to	
  be	
  national	
  in	
  specifics;	
  
       •   who	
   is	
   to	
   be	
   responsible	
   for	
   the	
   introduction	
   and	
   development	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy?	
  
           Should	
   it	
   be	
   a	
   central	
   national	
   body?	
   The	
   answer	
   is	
   not	
   simple.	
   Generally,	
   central	
   bodies	
   are	
  
           appropriate	
  to	
  set	
  goals	
  but	
  the	
  cooperative	
  work	
  of	
  all	
  interested	
  parties	
  and	
  stakeholders	
  
           at	
  local	
  level,	
  in	
  local	
  communities,	
  is	
  where	
  real	
  work	
  is	
  or	
  can	
  be	
  achieved;	
  	
  



                                                                                                                                                                              7	
  

	
  
 
       •   the	
   young	
   generation,	
   so-­‐called	
   “digital	
   natives”,	
   do	
   not	
   necessarily	
   have	
   an	
   “inherent”	
  
           culture	
   of	
   information;	
   they	
   also	
   must	
   undergo	
   education	
   and	
   training	
   in	
   the	
   field	
   of	
  
           Information	
  Literacy;	
  	
  
       •   school	
  management	
  and	
  teachers	
  are	
  the	
  most	
  important	
  stakeholders	
  in	
  the	
  schools	
  sector,	
  
           they	
   must	
   be	
   aware	
   of	
   what	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   is,	
   why	
   it	
   is	
   so	
   important	
   and	
   how	
   to	
  
           learn/teach	
  IL	
  in	
  schools;	
  	
  
       •   librarians	
  and	
  information	
  professionals,	
  who	
  are	
  traditionally	
  engaged	
  in	
  IL-­‐related	
  matters	
  
           everywhere,	
  must	
  cooperate	
  with	
  all	
  other	
  parties/stakeholders	
  involved	
  in	
  the	
  educational	
  
           processes,	
  to	
  include:	
  headmasters,	
  teachers,	
  parents,	
  students,	
  local	
  authorities,	
  and	
  other	
  
           people	
  having	
  important	
  social	
  functions	
  in	
  their	
  local	
  communities.	
  	
  
	
  
3.2.	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  HIGHER	
  EDUCATION	
  
             SECTOR	
  	
  
Developing	
  lifelong	
  learners	
  is	
  central	
  to	
  the	
  mission	
  of	
  higher	
  education	
  institutions.	
  Colleges	
  and	
  
universities	
   provide	
   their	
   graduates	
   with	
   the	
   foundation	
   for	
   continued	
   growth	
   throughout	
   their	
  
future	
   careers,	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   in	
   their	
   roles	
   as	
   informed	
   citizens	
   and	
   members	
   of	
   communities	
   by	
  
ensuring	
   that	
   individuals	
   have	
   the	
   intellectual	
   abilities	
   of	
   reasoning	
   and	
   critical	
   thinking,	
   and	
   by	
  
helping	
  them	
  to	
  construct	
  a	
  framework	
  for	
  learning	
  how	
  to	
  learn.	
  As	
  has	
  already	
  been	
  stressed,	
  
Information	
  Literacy	
  is	
  a	
  key	
  component	
  of,	
  and	
  contributor	
  to,	
  lifelong	
  learning.	
  
Through	
  EMPATIC’s	
  validation	
  process,	
  it	
  has	
  been	
  determined	
  that:	
  
       •   Information	
   Literacy	
   is	
   internationally	
   recognised	
   as	
   a	
   requisite	
   of	
   the	
   Information	
   Society	
  
           and	
  of	
  the	
  Knowledge	
  Economy;	
  
       •   the	
  labour	
  market	
  requires	
  flexibility	
  in	
  terms	
  of	
  professional	
  self-­‐requalification	
  and	
  lifelong	
  
           learning	
   attitude.	
   This,	
   in	
   turn,	
   requires	
   individuals	
   –	
   inter	
   alia–	
   to	
   dominate	
   the	
   current	
  
           information	
  environment	
  in	
  HE.	
  
The	
  major	
  challenge	
  to	
  IL	
  in	
  the	
  HE	
  sector	
  is	
  curricular	
  reform,	
  where	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  elements	
  are	
  to	
  
be	
  considered,	
  including:	
  
       •   learning	
  outcomes;	
  
       •   recognition	
  of	
  informal	
  learning;	
  
       •   flexible,	
   modernised	
   curricula	
   at	
   all	
   levels	
   which	
   correspond	
   to	
   the	
   needs	
   of	
   the	
   labour	
  
           market	
  (transversal	
  skills).	
  




                                                                                                                                                                 8	
  

	
  
 
These	
  challenges	
  lead	
  to	
  a	
  number	
  of	
  questions:	
  
       •   is	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   a	
   discipline	
   of	
   study?	
   A	
   strong	
   assumption	
   underlying	
   the	
  
           institutionalisation	
   of	
   IL	
   is	
   to	
   recognise	
   that	
   it	
   is	
   a	
   discipline	
   in	
   its	
   own	
   right,	
   to	
   be	
   conceived	
  
           mainly	
  as	
  "knowledge"	
  rather	
  than	
  "ability";	
  
       •   can	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   be	
   inserted	
   into	
   university	
   curricula,	
   for	
   example,	
   like	
   Computer	
  
           Science?	
  IL	
  is	
  a	
  diffused	
  discipline;	
  it	
  is	
  transversal	
  and	
  useful	
  to	
  every	
  course	
  of	
  study;	
  
       •   how	
   can	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   be	
   inserted	
   into	
   the	
   Bologna	
   process?	
   A	
   first	
   step	
   should	
   be	
  
           promoting	
   awareness	
   of	
   the	
   importance	
   of	
   IL	
   amongst	
   academics	
   and	
   policy	
   makers;	
   a	
  
           second	
   step	
   could	
   be	
   to	
   insert	
   IL	
   among	
   the	
   learning	
   outcomes	
   of	
   European	
   universities,	
  
           particularly,	
  among	
  the	
  so-­‐called	
  “generic	
  instrumental	
  competencies”.	
  	
  
	
  
3.3	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  VOCATIONAL	
  
            EDUCATION	
  AND	
  TRAINING	
  SECTOR	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   process,	
   the	
   functions	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   in	
   the	
   Vocational	
  
Education	
  and	
  Training	
  sector	
  have	
  been	
  determined:	
  
           •    IL	
  is	
  essential	
  for	
  productivity	
  and	
  efficiency	
  at	
  work;	
  
           •    IL	
  is	
  a	
  main	
  provision	
  for	
  personal	
  and	
  institutional	
  development;	
  
           •    IL	
  is	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  concepts	
  of	
  ongoing	
  education,	
  lifelong	
  learning	
  and	
  self-­‐education;	
  
           •    IL	
  facilitates	
  the	
  adaptation	
  of	
  changes	
  and/or	
  development	
  at	
  work;	
  
           •    IL	
  provides	
  a	
  work	
  force	
  of	
  high	
  quality;	
  	
  
           •    IL	
  supports	
  economic	
  growth.	
  
Challenges	
  and	
  recommendations	
  to	
  the	
  sector	
  have	
  been	
  identified	
  and	
  include:	
  
           •    lack	
   of	
   awareness	
   of	
   the	
   importance	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   by	
   decision	
   makers	
   and	
  
                politicians.	
  It	
  is	
  not	
  yet	
  fully	
  recognised	
  that	
  people	
  outside	
  formal	
  education	
  can	
  gain	
  the	
  
                competence	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  via	
  VET;	
  
           •    lack	
   of	
   awareness	
   on	
   the	
   level	
   of	
   Society;	
   they	
   do	
   not	
   understand	
   that	
   many	
   of	
   the	
  
                problems	
   they	
   face	
   in	
   utilizing	
   information	
   and	
   communication	
   technologies	
   (ICTs)	
   in	
  
                social	
  life	
  are	
  caused	
  by	
  a	
  lack	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy;	
  
           •    lack	
   of	
   recognition	
   of	
   the	
   relationship	
   between	
   Vocational	
   Education	
   and	
   Information	
  
                Literacy.	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  is	
  or	
  should	
  be	
  a	
  key	
  component	
  of	
  vocational	
  education;	
  
           •    lack	
   of	
   sufficient	
   coordination	
   and	
   cooperation	
   within	
   and	
   between	
   related	
   formal	
   and	
  
                civil	
   institutions	
   working	
   in	
   VET.	
   This	
   leads	
   to	
   unproductiveness	
   and	
   wastage	
   in	
   resources	
  
                in	
  VET	
  activities;	
  
           •    lack	
  of	
  national	
  policies	
  in	
  the	
  subject	
  of	
  Vocational	
  Education	
  means	
  that	
  VET	
  activities	
  
                cannot	
  be	
  determined	
  at	
  a	
  national	
  level;	
  activities	
  are	
  often	
  ad	
  hoc	
  and	
  their	
  consistency	
  
                cannot	
  be	
  realized	
  or	
  maintained.	
  	
  




                                                                                                                                                                                    9	
  

	
  
 
	
  
3.4	
  	
   SUMMARY	
  FINDINGS	
  –	
  INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  ADULT	
  EDUCATION	
  /	
  
            LIFELONG	
  LEARNING	
  SECTOR	
  	
  

Through	
  EMPATIC’s	
  validation	
  process,	
  the	
  important	
  issues	
  for	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  (IL)	
  in	
  the	
  
adult	
  education/lifelong	
  learning	
  sector	
  have	
  been	
  identified	
  to	
  include:	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
  is	
  essential	
  for	
  the	
  development,	
  prosperity	
  and	
  freedom	
  of	
  society;	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
   contributes	
   to	
   the	
   personal,	
   social,	
   occupational	
   and	
   educational	
   level	
   of	
   society	
   and	
  
            individuals;	
  
        • 	
  	
   IL	
  is	
  related	
  to	
  the	
  concepts	
  of	
  ongoing	
  education,	
  self-­‐education,	
  vocational	
  training;	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
  facilitates	
  the	
  adaptation	
  of	
  changes	
  and	
  development	
  at	
  work;	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
   effects	
   productivity	
   and	
   work	
   efficiency,	
   and	
   contributes	
   to	
   the	
   improvement	
   of	
   the	
  
            quality;	
  
        • 	
  	
   IL	
  is	
  essential	
  for	
  people	
  and	
  organisations	
  to	
  survive	
  and	
  develop	
  themselves;	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
  supports	
  economic	
  growth;	
  

        • 	
  	
   IL	
  is,	
  therefore,	
  a	
  basic	
  human	
  right	
  that	
  promotes	
  social	
  inclusion	
  in	
  all	
  nations	
  (IFAP	
  mid-­‐
            term	
  strategy	
  2008-­‐2013	
  	
  
            http://portal.unesco.org/.../12114609343ifap.../ifap_draf_strategic_plan.pdf).	
  	
  

	
  




                                                                                                                                                            10	
  

	
  
 
It	
  has	
  been	
  perceived	
  that:	
  
            • there	
   is	
   a	
   low	
   level	
   of	
   awareness	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   at	
   the	
   level	
   of	
   Society:	
   society	
   is	
  
               not	
  yet	
  persuaded	
  of	
  its	
  importance;	
  
                                         •                    IL	
   channels	
   face	
   difficulties	
   in	
   spreading	
   knowledge	
   of	
   the	
   role	
   and	
   the	
   necessity	
   of	
  
                                                              Information	
   Literacy	
   in	
   politics	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   in	
   real	
   life	
   (school,	
   higher	
   education,	
   jobs,	
  
                                                              employees	
  etc.);	
  
                                         •                    politicians	
   and	
   decision	
   makers	
   should	
   pay	
   attention	
   to	
   the	
   potential	
   of	
   IL	
   in	
   social	
  
                                                              coherence.	
   National	
   governments	
   have	
   a	
   specific	
   responsibility	
   as	
   they	
   determine	
   the	
  
                                                              form	
   and	
   content	
   of	
   educational	
   systems	
   in	
   which	
   pupils	
   are	
   prepared	
   for	
   their	
   future	
  
                                                              lives	
   as	
   responsible	
   and	
   participative	
   citizens.	
   If	
   IL	
   could	
   be	
   linked	
   through	
   to	
  
                                                              employment,	
  decision	
  makers	
  will	
  be	
  persuaded	
  to	
  accept	
  it;	
  
                                         •                    there	
   is	
   poor	
   visibility	
   of	
   IL	
   courses	
   in	
   both	
   formal	
   and	
   informal	
   educational	
   sectors.	
   IL	
  
                                                              starts	
   in	
   schools	
   and	
   continues	
   through	
   to	
   higher	
   education	
   but	
   the	
   IL	
   process	
   is	
  
                                                              problematic	
  outside	
  formal	
  education;	
  
                                         •                     there	
  is	
  the	
  lack	
  of	
  coordination	
  and	
  cooperation	
  amongst	
  different	
  IL	
  stakeholders;	
  and,	
  	
  
                                         •                    there	
  is	
  a	
  lack	
  of	
  recognition	
  for	
  libraries’	
  innovative	
  role	
  in	
  the	
  IL	
  development	
  and	
  the	
  
                                                              central	
  role	
  librarians	
  can	
  and	
  do	
  play.	
  
	
  

SECTION	
  4:	
  RECOMMENDATIONS	
  TO	
  POLICY	
  MAKERS	
  
            	
  
In	
   Section	
   4	
   we	
   formulate	
   a	
   set	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   development	
   recommendation	
   to	
   policy	
  
makers	
  in	
  Europe.	
  	
  	
  
Information	
  Literacy	
  is	
  understood	
  here	
  as	
  the	
  important	
  social	
  objective,	
  what	
  means	
  it	
  is	
  seen	
  as	
  
a	
   prerequisite	
   for	
   the	
   Information	
   Society,	
   the	
   objective	
   of	
   educational	
   policy,	
   it	
   also	
   implies	
   a	
  
massive	
  operation	
  and	
  requires	
  changes	
  in	
  the	
  education	
  systems.	
  Of	
  course,	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  
as	
   social	
   objective	
   is	
   inevitably	
   connected	
   with	
   the	
   IL	
   as	
   cognitive	
   acquisition	
   of	
   individuals,	
   a	
  
competence	
  of	
  general	
  character	
  or	
  “liberal	
  art”	
  (see	
  Deliverable	
  1.1,	
  p.	
  64-­‐68).	
  
Our	
  recommendations	
  are	
  addressed	
  to	
  all	
  and	
  different	
  IL	
  stakeholders	
  in	
  Europe,	
  but	
  the	
  main	
  
ones	
   might	
   be	
   the	
   national	
   bodies	
   responsible	
   for	
   the	
   Lifelong	
   Learning	
   (LLL)	
   and	
   National	
  
Qualifications	
   Frameworks	
   (NQR)	
   development1.	
   The	
   other	
   important	
   groups	
   of	
   addressees	
   are	
  
educators	
  and	
  the	
  education	
  authorities	
  as	
  well	
  as	
  library	
  and	
  information	
  professionals.	
  	
  
All	
  recommendations	
  offered	
  here	
  are	
  based	
  on	
  the	
  entire	
  EMPATIC	
  project	
  findings	
  and	
  products	
  
up	
   to	
   date,	
   including	
   the	
   previous	
   Deliverables,	
   in	
   particular	
   of	
   numbers	
   1.1,	
   4.1,	
   4.2,	
   5.1,	
   5.2,	
   5.3,	
  
5.4	
  and	
  6.1,	
  the	
  discussions	
  during	
  the	
  four	
  validation	
  workshops	
  and	
  two	
  final	
  conferences,	
  that	
  is	
  
“Literacy	
  and	
  Society,	
  Culture,	
  Media	
  and	
  Education”	
  in	
  Ghent,	
  Belgium	
  (9-­‐11	
  February	
  2012)	
  and	
  
“EMMILE	
   European	
   Meeting	
   on	
   Media	
   and	
   Information	
   Literacy”	
   in	
   Milan,	
   Italy	
   (27-­‐29	
   February	
  
2012).	
  	
  
The	
  main	
  purpose	
  of	
  the	
  EMPATIC	
  recommendations	
  is	
  to	
  stimulate	
  action.	
  	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
1
  See the Lifelong Learning Programme National Agencies at http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐
programme/doc1208_en.htm,           and      the     EQF        National     Coordination     Points       at
http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/uploads/file/EQF%20National%20Coordination%20Points.pdf).
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           11	
  

	
  
 
4.1	
  	
   CONTEXT	
  	
  
The	
  European	
  Area	
  of	
  Lifelong	
  Learning	
  	
  
The	
  main	
  context	
  for	
  the	
  recommendations	
  is/should	
  be	
  the	
   E u r o p e a n 	
   A r e a 	
   o f 	
   L i f e l o n g 	
  
L e a r n i n g 	
         (Europa,	
          Summaries	
            of	
             EU	
         Legislation	
                       2011b,	
  
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11054_en.
htm),	
  and	
  the	
  commitments	
  and	
  responsibilities	
  involved	
  by	
  that	
  enterprise.	
  	
  
The	
   policy	
   of	
   European	
   Union	
   (EU),	
   despite	
   the	
   impression	
   of	
   a	
   huge	
   impact	
   on	
   the	
   status	
   of	
  
individual	
  countries,	
  the	
  steps	
  undertaken	
  to	
  create	
  the	
  Information	
  Society,	
  and	
  involvement	
  in	
  
the	
  promotion	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy,	
  is	
  actually	
  not	
  coherent,	
  lacks	
  accumulation	
  and	
  relevant	
  
linking	
  between	
  various	
  aspects	
  of	
  the	
  IL	
  area.	
  	
  
Among	
   the	
   main	
   and	
   important	
   long-­‐term	
   strategic	
   objectives	
   of	
   the	
   EU	
   education	
   and	
   training	
  
policies,	
   where	
   the	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   strategy	
   needs	
   to	
   be	
   transparently	
   and	
   openly	
  
implemented,	
  are:	
  
         • 	
  	
   Making	
  lifelong	
  learning	
  and	
  mobility	
  a	
  reality;	
  	
  
         • 	
  	
   Improving	
  the	
  quality	
  and	
  efficiency	
  of	
  education	
  and	
  training;	
  	
  
         • 	
  	
   Promoting	
  equity,	
  social	
  cohesion	
  and	
  active	
  citizenship;	
  	
  
         • 	
  	
   Enhancing	
   creativity	
   and	
   innovation,	
   including	
   entrepreneurship,	
   at	
   all	
   levels	
   of	
   education	
  
                    and	
    training	
           (European	
              Commission,	
        Education	
                   and	
             Training	
  
                    http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐policy/doc28_en.htm).	
  	
  
At	
  the	
  same	
  time,	
  the	
  European	
  Union	
  points	
  to	
  the	
  key	
  competences,	
  relevant	
  to	
  the	
  objectives	
  
and	
   tasks	
   within	
   Lifelong	
   Learning	
   (LLL).	
   As	
   the	
   combination	
   of	
   knowledge,	
   skills	
   and	
   attitudes	
  
appropriate	
  to	
  the	
  context,	
  the	
  key	
  competences	
  are	
  particularly	
  necessary	
  for	
  personal	
  fulfilment	
  
and	
   development,	
   social	
   inclusion,	
   active	
   citizenship	
   and	
   employment.	
   Among	
   the	
   eight	
   key	
  
competencies,	
  contained	
  also	
  in	
  the	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  area,	
  forming	
  the	
  basis	
  for	
  the	
  essential	
  
knowledge,	
   skills	
   and	
   attitudes	
   related	
   to	
   each	
   of	
   these	
   there	
   are:	
   communication	
   in	
   mother	
  
tongue,	
  communication	
  in	
  foreign	
  languages,	
  mathematical	
  competence	
  and	
  basic	
  competences	
  in	
  
science	
  and	
  technology,	
  digital	
  competence,	
  learning	
  to	
  learn,	
  social	
  and	
  civic	
  competences,	
  sense	
  
of	
   initiative	
   and	
   entrepreneurship,	
   cultural	
   awareness	
   and	
   expression	
   (Europa,	
   Summaries	
   of	
   EU	
  
Legislation	
  2011a,	
  
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11090_en.
htm).	
  	
  




                                                                                                                                                          12	
  

	
  
 
Evaluation	
  of	
  the	
  key	
  competences,	
  and	
  also	
  Information	
  Literacy,	
  should	
  be	
  a	
  reference	
  tool	
  for	
  
EU	
  countries	
  and	
  their	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  policies.	
  The	
  EU	
  countries	
  try	
  to	
  ensure:	
  
         • 	
  	
   That	
   initial	
   education	
   and	
   training	
   offer	
   all	
   young	
   people	
   the	
   means	
   to	
   develop	
   the	
   key	
  
                    competences	
  to	
  a	
  level	
  that	
  equips	
  them	
  for	
  adult	
  and	
  working	
  life,	
  thus	
  also	
  providing	
  a	
  
                    basis	
  for	
  future	
  learning;	
  
         • 	
  	
   That	
   appropriate	
   provision	
   is	
   made	
   for	
   young	
   people	
   who	
   are	
   disadvantaged	
   in	
   their	
  
                    training	
  so	
  that	
  they	
  can	
  fulfil	
  their	
  educational	
  potential;	
  
         • 	
  	
   That	
  adults	
  can	
  develop	
  and	
  update	
  key	
  competences	
  throughout	
  their	
  lives,	
  particularly	
  
                    priority	
  target	
  groups	
  such	
  as	
  persons	
  who	
  need	
  to	
  update	
  their	
  competences;	
  
         • 	
  	
   That	
   appropriate	
   infrastructure	
   is	
   in	
   place	
   for	
   continuing	
   education	
   and	
   training	
   of	
   adults,	
  
                    that	
  there	
  are	
  measures	
  to	
  ensure	
  access	
  to	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  and	
  the	
  labour	
  market	
  
                    and	
  that	
  there	
  is	
  support	
  for	
  learners	
  depending	
  on	
  their	
  specific	
  needs	
  and	
  competences;	
  
         • 	
  	
   The	
  coherence	
  of	
  adult	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  provision	
  through	
  close	
  links	
  between	
  the	
  
                    policies	
    concerned	
            (Europa,	
         Summaries	
        of	
     EU	
       Legislation	
       2011	
  
                    http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11
                    090_en.htm).	
  

The	
  next	
  important	
  enterprise	
  in	
  this	
  area,	
  the	
  one	
  applying	
  to	
  four	
  learning	
  sectors	
  and	
  all	
  levels	
  
of	
  education	
  is	
  EQF	
  –	
  the	
  European	
  Qualification	
  Framework	
  for	
  Lifelong	
  Learning.	
  In	
  the	
  European	
  
Commission	
  document	
  we	
  read:	
  As	
  an	
  instrument	
  for	
  the	
  promotion	
  of	
  lifelong	
  learning,	
  the	
  EQF	
  
encompasses	
   all	
   levels	
   of	
   qualifications	
   acquired	
   in	
   general,	
   vocational	
   as	
   well	
   as	
   academic	
  
education	
  and	
  training.	
  Additionally,	
  the	
  framework	
  addresses	
  qualifications	
  acquired	
  in	
  initial	
  and	
  
continuing	
   education	
   and	
   training.	
   The	
   eight	
   reference	
   levels	
   are	
   described	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
   learning	
  
outcomes.	
  (…)	
  In	
  the	
  EQF	
  a	
  learning	
  outcome	
  is	
  defined	
  as	
  a	
  statement	
  of	
  what	
  a	
  learner	
  knows,	
  
understands	
  and	
  is	
  able	
  to	
  do	
  on	
  completion	
  of	
  a	
  learning	
  process.	
  The	
  EQF	
  therefore	
  emphasizes	
  
the	
  results	
  of	
  learning	
  rather	
  than	
  focusing	
  on	
  inputs	
  such	
  as	
  length	
  of	
  study.	
  Learning	
  outcomes	
  
are	
   specified	
   in	
   three	
   categories	
   –	
   as	
   knowledge,	
   skills	
   and	
   competence	
   (European	
   Commission	
  
2008,	
   p.	
   3).	
   And	
   also:	
   The	
   EQF	
   aims	
   to	
   relate	
   different	
   countries'	
   national	
   qualifications	
   systems	
   to	
  
a	
  common	
  European	
  reference	
  framework.	
  Individuals	
  and	
  employers	
  will	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  use	
  the	
  EQF	
  to	
  
better	
   understand	
   and	
   compare	
   the	
   qualifications	
   levels	
   of	
   different	
   countries	
   and	
   different	
  
education	
  and	
  training	
  systems.	
  Agreed	
  upon	
  by	
  the	
  European	
  institutions	
  in	
  2008,	
  the	
  EQF	
  is	
  being	
  
put	
  in	
  practice	
  across	
  Europe.	
  It	
  encourages	
  countries	
  to	
  relate	
  their	
  national	
  qualifications	
  systems	
  
to	
   the	
   EQF	
   so	
   that	
   all	
   new	
   qualifications	
   issued	
   from	
   2012	
   carry	
   a	
   reference	
   to	
   an	
   appropriate	
   EQF	
  
level	
  (European	
  Commission,	
  European	
  Qualifications	
  Framework	
  2011.	
  
http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/about_en.htm)	
   It	
   should	
   be	
   also	
   mentioned	
   that	
   the	
   EQF	
   framework	
   is	
  
intended	
  for	
  policy	
  makers,	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  providers,	
  employers	
  and	
  learners.	
  




                                                                                                                                                                     13	
  

	
  
 
Advice	
   from	
   the	
   International	
   Federation	
   of	
   Library	
   Associations	
   and	
  
Institutions	
  (IFLA)	
  	
  
In	
  the	
  Guidelines	
  on	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  for	
  Lifelong	
  Learning	
  (Lau,	
  2006),	
  published	
  by	
  the	
  
Information	
   Literacy	
   Section	
   of	
   IFLA	
   with	
   the	
   aim	
   of	
   providing	
   a	
   pragmatic	
   framework	
   for	
  
those	
   professionals	
   who	
   are	
   interested	
   in	
   starting	
   an	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   program,	
   Jesus	
  
Lau	
   identified	
   the	
   list	
   of	
   actions	
   to	
   be	
   undertaken.	
   He	
   writes:	
   The	
   complete	
   success	
   of	
   an	
  
information	
  literacy	
  program	
  depends	
  on	
  the	
  commitment	
  at	
  the	
  institutional	
  level.	
  However,	
  
a	
   commitment	
   is	
   not	
   always	
   present	
   or	
   clear	
   at	
   top	
   management	
   levels.	
   Therefore,	
  
information	
  professionals	
  must	
  devote	
  time	
  to	
  create	
  the	
  relevant	
  strategies	
  to	
  convince	
  and	
  
sell	
   the	
   benefits	
   of	
   information	
   literacy	
   to	
   institutional	
   leaders	
   to	
   get	
   their	
   support.	
   The	
   basic	
  
steps	
  to	
  market	
  information	
  literacy	
  programs	
  (…)	
  are:	
  
         • 	
  	
   Adapt	
  or	
  adopt	
  international	
  information	
  literacy	
  standards	
  and	
  practices	
  
         • 	
  	
   Identify	
   the	
   information	
   literacy	
   program	
   that	
   works	
   best	
   for	
   you	
   and	
   your	
  
                    institution	
  
         • 	
  	
   Adopt	
  or	
  design	
  a	
  program	
  based	
  on	
  national	
  and	
  international	
  experiences	
  
         • 	
  	
   Identify	
  what	
  is	
  required	
  to	
  implement	
  the	
  program	
  
         • 	
  	
   Regard	
   the	
   information	
   literacy	
   process	
   as	
   non-­‐linear,	
   you	
   may	
   skip	
   steps	
   and	
  
                    change	
  their	
  order	
  
         • 	
  	
   Work	
   on	
   a	
   strategic	
   plan	
   to	
   chart	
   the	
   course	
   of	
   your	
   goals	
   and	
   actions	
   –See	
   Chapter	
  
                    5	
  for	
  specifics	
  
         • 	
  	
   Involve	
   all	
   relevant	
   parties	
   in	
   the	
   planning	
   process:	
   your	
   library	
   team,	
  
                    faculty/teachers,	
   administrators,	
   and	
   the	
   final	
   decision-­‐maker	
   for	
   the	
   project	
   (Lau,	
  
                    2006,	
  p.	
  20).	
  
Advice	
  from	
  the	
  UNESCO’s	
  Information	
  for	
  All	
  Programme	
  (IFAP)	
  	
  
The	
   Information	
   for	
   All	
   Programme	
   (IFAP)	
   is	
   intended	
   to	
   help	
   UNESCO	
   Member	
   States	
  
develop	
   and	
   implement	
   national	
   information	
   policies	
   and	
   knowledge	
   strategies	
   using	
  
information	
  and	
  communication	
  technologies	
  (ICT).	
  As	
  the	
  other	
  goals,	
  also	
  the	
  Information	
  
Literacy	
   commitment	
   should	
   be	
   developed	
   and	
   implemented	
   by	
   IFAP	
   worldwide,	
   through	
  
the	
  activities	
  that	
  should:	
  
         • 	
  	
   promote	
   international	
   reflection	
   and	
   debate	
   on	
   the	
   ethical,	
   legal	
   and	
   societal	
  
                    challenges	
  of	
  the	
  information	
  society;	
  
         • 	
  	
   promote	
   and	
   widen	
   access	
   to	
   information	
   in	
   the	
   public	
   domain	
   through	
   the	
  
                    organization,	
  digitization	
  and	
  preservation	
  of	
  information;	
  
         • 	
  	
   support	
   training,	
   continuing	
   education	
   and	
   lifelong	
   learning	
   in	
   the	
   fields	
   of	
  
                    communication,	
  information	
  and	
  informatics;	
  
         • 	
  	
   support	
   the	
   production	
   of	
   local	
   content	
   and	
   foster	
   the	
   availability	
   of	
   indigenous	
  
                    knowledge	
  through	
  basic	
  literacy	
  and	
  ICT	
  literacy	
  training;	
  
         • 	
  	
   promote	
   the	
   use	
   of	
   international	
   standards	
   and	
   best	
   practices	
   in	
   communication,	
  
                    information	
  and	
  informatics	
  in	
  UNESCO's	
  fields	
  of	
  competence;	
  and	
  
         • 	
  	
   promote	
   information	
   and	
   knowledge	
   networking	
   at	
   local,	
   national,	
   regional	
   and	
  
                    international	
  levels	
  (UNESCO	
  2011,	
  	
  
         	
  
         	
  



         http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-­‐and-­‐information/intergovernmental-­‐
         programmes/information-­‐for-­‐all-­‐programme-­‐ifap/about-­‐ifap/objectives/).	
  	
  

                                                                                                                                                                  14	
  

	
  
 
	
  
4.2	
  	
   INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  SCHOOL	
  LEARNING	
  SECTOR	
  –
            Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  Comenius	
  programme	
  area)	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   workshops,	
   a	
   process	
   of	
   consultation	
   and	
   the	
   Final	
  
Conferences,	
   the	
   following	
   recommendations	
   to	
   policy	
   makers	
   in	
   the	
   schools’	
   sector	
   have	
  
been	
  identified:	
  	
  
        1.     Information	
   Literacy	
   and	
   its	
   specialized	
   fields	
   must	
   be	
   promoted	
   to	
   society,	
  
               decision	
  makers,	
  politicians	
  and	
  users.	
  	
  
        2.     Clearly	
  formulated	
  national	
  IL	
  policy	
  assumptions	
  are	
  required;	
  some	
  elements	
  of	
  
               IL	
   development	
   strategies	
   are	
   present	
   in	
   European	
   countries	
   but	
   are	
   “taken-­‐for-­‐
               granted”.	
  
        3.     National	
   IL	
   development	
   strategies	
   should	
   be	
   flexible	
   and	
   built	
   on	
   an	
   all-­‐European	
  
               scheme	
   of	
   IL	
   standards,	
   and	
   those	
   in	
   turn	
   should	
   be	
   formulated	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
  
               learning	
  outcomes.	
  Consequently	
  there	
  is	
  a	
  strong	
  recommendation	
  to	
  prepare	
  IL	
  
               standards.	
  
                o     Detailed	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   strategies	
   are	
   needed.	
   However,	
   educational	
  
                      systems,	
  information	
  cultures,	
  and	
  experiences	
  with	
  IL	
  development	
  in	
  every	
  
                      EU	
  country	
  are	
  different,	
  so	
  what	
  works	
  in	
  one	
  part	
  of	
  Europe	
  may	
  not	
  work	
  
                      in	
  another.	
  As	
  a	
  result	
  it	
  would	
  be	
  better	
  to	
  formulate	
  European	
  Information	
  
                      Literacy	
  standards	
  in	
  terms	
  of	
  learning	
  outcomes;	
  these	
  would	
  identify	
  a	
  set	
  
                      of	
   IL	
   goals	
   to	
   be	
   achieved	
   in	
   different	
   appropriate	
   ways	
   and	
   by	
   various	
   means	
  
                      within	
   formal,	
   informal	
   and	
   non-­‐formal	
   learning	
   environments.	
   In	
   other	
  
                      words,	
   the	
   aims	
   of	
   IL	
   should	
   be	
   the	
   same	
   across	
   Europe	
   in	
   general,	
   but	
   IL	
  
                      development	
  strategies	
  need	
  to	
  be	
  national	
  in	
  specifics.	
  
         4. Ministries	
  of	
  education,	
  departments	
  of	
  Library	
  and	
  Information	
  Science	
  at	
  higher	
  
            educational	
  institutions	
  and	
  relevant	
  libraries	
  should	
  cooperate	
  with	
  each	
  other.	
  
         5. Identification	
   of	
   roles	
   for	
   multi-­‐dimensional	
   cooperation	
   of	
   different	
   IL	
  
            stakeholders	
   is	
   crucial	
   (for	
   example,	
   local	
   authorities	
   and	
   other	
   local	
   figures,	
  
            parents,	
  school	
  authorities,	
  students,	
  teachers).	
  
                o     It	
  is	
  not	
  simple	
  to	
  indicate	
  who	
  is	
  to	
  be	
  responsible	
  for	
  the	
  introduction	
  and	
  
                      development	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy,	
  but	
  surely	
  it	
  could	
  be	
  national,	
  central	
  
                      units.	
   Generally,	
   central	
   bodies	
   are	
   appropriate	
   to	
   set	
   goals	
   but	
   the	
  
                      cooperative	
   work	
   of	
   all	
   interested	
   parties	
   and	
   stakeholders	
   at	
   local	
   level,	
   in	
  
                      local	
  communities,	
  is	
  where	
  real	
  work	
  is	
  or	
  can	
  be	
  achieved.	
  
         6. School	
   management	
   and	
   teachers	
   are	
   the	
   most	
   important	
   stakeholders	
   in	
   the	
  
            schools	
   sector,	
   they	
   must	
   be	
   aware	
   of	
   what	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   is,	
   why	
   it	
   is	
   so	
  
            important	
  and	
  how	
  to	
  learn/teach	
  IL	
  in	
  schools.	
  
                o     All	
   the	
   changes	
   related	
   to	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   development	
   in	
   the	
   school	
  
                      (formal	
   education)	
   learning	
   sector	
   should	
   start	
   with	
   the	
   involvement	
   of	
  
                      teachers;	
   they	
   need	
   to	
   be	
   convinced	
   and	
   trained	
   in	
   the	
   IL	
   didactics.	
   School	
  
                      teachers	
   are	
   the	
   basis	
   of	
   educational	
   systems	
   and	
   send	
   the	
   most	
   influential	
  
                      messages	
  to	
  their	
  students/children	
  in	
  schools.	
  
         7. School	
  libraries	
  are	
  important	
  and	
  the	
  impact	
  of	
  the	
  school	
  library	
  function	
  must	
  
            be	
  shown.	
  

                                                                                                                                                      15	
  

	
  
 
         8. Librarians/information	
   professionals,	
   who	
   are	
   traditionally	
   engaged	
   in	
   IL-­‐related	
  
            matters	
  everywhere,	
  must	
  cooperate	
  with	
  all	
  other	
  parties/stakeholders	
  involved	
  
            in	
  the	
  educational	
  processes,	
  to	
  include:	
  headmasters,	
  teachers,	
  parents,	
  students,	
  
            local	
  authorities,	
  and	
  other	
  people	
  having	
  important	
  social	
  functions	
  in	
  their	
  local	
  
            communities	
  (police	
  officers,	
  fire-­‐fighters,	
  priests,	
  etc.).	
  
         9. Real	
   work	
   at	
   the	
   local	
   level	
   is	
   the	
   most	
   important	
   factor	
   for	
   IL	
   development	
   in	
   the	
  
            school	
  sector	
  in	
  Europe,	
  and	
  as	
  a	
  result	
  it	
  has	
  to	
  be	
  strongly	
  supported	
  by	
  national	
  
            and	
  European	
  law	
  and	
  policy	
  makers.	
  
         10. The	
   young	
   generation,	
   so-­‐called	
   “digital	
   natives”,	
   do	
   not	
   necessarily	
   have	
   an	
  
             “inherent”	
  culture	
  of	
  information;	
  they	
  also	
  must	
  undergo	
  education	
  and	
  training	
  
             in	
  the	
  field	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy.	
  
        11. National	
   education	
   policies	
   are	
   the	
   power	
   of	
   national	
   governments;	
   it	
   is	
  
            imperative	
   to	
   implement	
   IL	
   in	
   all	
   school	
   policies	
   that	
   recommend	
   output-­‐based	
  
            learning.	
  
	
  
4.3	
  	
   INFORMTIOAN	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  HIGHER	
  EDUCATION	
  LEARNING	
  SECTOR	
  (HE)	
  
            Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  Erasmus	
  programme	
  area)	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   workshops,	
   a	
   process	
   of	
   consultation	
   and	
   the	
   Final	
  
Conference,	
   the	
   following	
   set	
   of	
   recommendations	
   has	
   been	
   drafted	
   to	
   address	
   different	
  
levels	
   of	
   government,	
   from	
   the	
   European	
   Union,	
   through	
   National	
   and	
   National	
   Academic	
  
Systems,	
  to	
  the	
  individual	
  university	
  level.	
  
        1.     Information	
   Literacy	
   and	
   its	
   specialized	
   fields	
   must	
   be	
   promoted	
   to	
   society,	
  
               decision	
  makers,	
  politicians	
  and	
  users.	
  	
  
        2.     Ministries	
  of	
  education,	
  departments	
  of	
  Library	
  and	
  Information	
  Science	
  at	
  higher	
  
               educational	
  institutions	
  and	
  relevant	
  libraries	
  should	
  cooperate	
  with	
  each	
  other.	
  	
  
        3.     European	
   Higher	
   Education	
   Area:	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   should	
   be	
   embedded	
   into	
  
               the	
   Bologna	
   process	
   as	
   a	
   new	
   learning	
   outcome,	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   fully	
   legitimise	
  
               Information	
   Literacy	
   within	
   and	
   at	
   the	
   level	
   of	
   European	
   Higher	
   Education	
   Area	
  
               (European	
  Commission	
  policy	
  level).	
  
        4.     Support	
  a	
  European	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  Model:	
  the	
  diffusion	
  of	
  the	
  revised	
  2011	
  
               SCONUL	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  model	
  for	
  Higher	
  Education	
  should	
  be	
  supported	
  as	
  
               it	
   is	
   a	
   European	
   model,	
   widely	
   accepted	
   in	
   Europe	
   and	
   translated	
   into	
   various	
  
               European	
  languages.	
  Originally	
  (1999)	
  conceived	
  for	
  the	
  Higher	
  Education	
  sector,	
  
               its	
  successful	
  diffusion	
  in	
  European	
  countries,	
  led	
  to	
  the	
  definition	
  of	
  a	
  core	
  model	
  
               and	
   a	
   number	
   of	
   so-­‐called	
   “lenses”,	
   each	
   for	
   a	
   different	
   group	
   of	
   learners	
  
               (European	
  Commission	
  -­‐	
  Supranational	
  policy	
  level).	
  
        5.     Information	
  Literacy	
  must	
  be	
  implemented	
  within	
  a	
  curricular	
  integration	
  process	
  
               in	
  Higher	
  Education	
  courses	
  of	
  study,	
  similar	
  to	
  the	
  process	
  already	
  established	
  for	
  
               Computer	
  Literacy	
  (University	
  policy	
  level).	
  




                                                                                                                                                          16	
  

	
  
 
	
  
         6.    Legitimatise	
   a	
   curricular	
   configuration	
   for	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   to	
   be	
   diffused	
   in	
  
               European	
   universities	
   (Academic	
   system	
   policy	
   level).	
   Three	
   different	
   levels,	
  
               together	
  with	
  number	
  of	
  credits,	
  were	
  suggested:	
  
                 o     Library	
  delivered	
  (2-­‐4	
  credits)	
  
                 o     Academic	
  delivered	
  (4	
  credits)	
  
                 o     Embedded	
  (credits	
  included	
  within	
  the	
  subject	
  credit	
  amount)	
  
          7. Educational	
   continuum:	
   in	
   the	
   long	
   term,	
   Higher	
   Education	
   educational	
   policies	
  
             will	
  take	
  large	
  benefit	
  from	
  the	
  full	
  integration	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  into	
  school	
  
             curricula	
  (National	
  policy	
  level).	
  
          8. Syllabus	
   definition:	
   syllabi	
   should	
   be	
   tailored	
   according	
   to	
   the	
   context	
   of	
   the	
  
             specific	
   information	
   habit	
   of	
   the	
   discipline/subject	
   involved	
   (University	
   policy	
  
             level).	
  
          9. Institutionalisation	
   of	
   approach:	
   a	
   governance	
   approach	
   should	
   be	
   supportive	
   of	
  
             the	
  overall	
  process	
  of	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  institutionalisation	
  in	
  Higher	
  Education,	
  
             since	
   it	
   is	
   an	
   issue	
   crossing	
   the	
   domains	
   of	
   information	
   and	
   education	
   policies	
  
             (Academic	
  system	
  policy	
  level).	
  
Targeting	
   central	
   policy	
   makers	
   may	
   have	
   greater	
   potential	
   for	
   change	
   than	
   working	
   at	
   local	
  
levels,	
  through	
  'slow	
  research'	
  and	
  similar	
  processes.	
  
	
  
4.4	
  	
   INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  VOCATIONAL	
  EDUCATION	
  AND	
  TRAINING	
  
            SECTOR	
  (VET)	
  
            Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  Leonardo	
  da	
  Vinci	
  programme	
  
            area)	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   workshops,	
   a	
   process	
   of	
   consultation	
   and	
   the	
   Final	
  
Conference	
   the	
   following	
   recommendations	
   to	
   policy	
   makers	
   in	
   the	
   VET	
   sector	
   have	
   been	
  
identified:	
  	
  
         1.    National	
  VET	
  policies	
  should	
  be	
  developed	
  and	
  information	
  literacy	
  must	
  be	
  a	
  vital	
  
               part	
  of	
  these	
  policies.	
  
         2.    Awareness	
   of	
   IL	
   should	
   be	
   created	
   for	
   society,	
   decision	
   makers,	
   politicians	
   and	
  
               users.	
  In	
  this	
  context,	
  ministries	
  of	
  education,	
  librarians’	
  associations,	
  departments	
  
               of	
   information	
   management	
   at	
   universities	
   and	
   all	
   relevant	
   institutions	
   should	
  
               cooperate	
  with	
  each	
  other.	
  
         3.    Information	
   literacy	
   should	
   be	
   integrated	
   into	
   the	
   official	
   lifelong	
   learning	
  
               programs	
  of	
  ministries	
  of	
  education.	
  
         4.    Information	
   literacy	
   should	
   be	
   integrated	
   into	
   the	
   VET	
   activities	
   arranged	
   by	
  
               municipalities,	
   ministries,	
   universities	
   and	
   the	
   other	
   institutions.	
   In	
   this	
  
               framework,	
  IL	
  should	
  be	
  connected	
  to	
  municipalities	
  and	
  ministries.	
  
         5.    Social	
  awareness	
  of	
  literacy	
  should	
  be	
  included	
  within	
  work	
  culture	
  and	
  the	
  way	
  
               employers	
   view	
   it;	
   VET	
   provides	
   a	
   mobile	
   work	
   force	
   and	
   innovative	
   economy	
  
               within	
  Europe.	
  	
  



                                                                                                                                              17	
  

	
  
 
       6.     In	
  cooperation	
  with	
  library	
  associations,	
  Departments	
  of	
  Information	
  Management	
  
              and	
  other	
  relevant	
  parties	
  at	
  universities	
  should	
  organize	
  projects	
  and	
  curriculum	
  
              about	
  information	
  literacy-­‐VET	
  to	
  fulfil	
  the	
  holistic	
  education	
  of	
  trainers.	
  
       7.     Educational	
   content	
   and	
   appropriate	
   materials	
   related	
   to	
   information	
   literacy	
   in	
  
              VET	
  should	
  be	
  prepared.	
  
       8.     Courses	
  should	
  be	
  organized	
  through	
  cooperation	
  with	
  public	
  libraries	
  to	
  provide	
  
              people	
  with	
  competence	
  in	
  information	
  literacy.	
  
       9.     Ministries	
   should	
   give	
   appropriate	
   consideration	
   and	
   recognition	
   to	
   the	
  
              attendance	
   and	
   experience	
   in	
   education	
   on	
   information	
   literacy	
   and	
   VET	
   when	
  
              considering	
  workers’	
  careers.	
  
       10. Awareness	
   of	
   IL	
   is	
   necessary	
   at	
   all	
   levels;	
   national,	
   local	
   and	
   institutional	
   bodies	
  
           must	
  work	
  together.	
  	
  
       11. Lobbying	
   for	
   IL	
   in	
   VET	
   (and	
   indeed	
   all	
   sectors	
   of	
   education)	
   should	
   be	
   made	
   to	
  
           national	
  government	
  and	
  EU	
  politicians.	
  
       12. International	
   projects	
   and	
   cooperation	
   concerning	
   VET	
   and	
   information	
   literacy	
  
           should	
  be	
  developed.	
  	
  
       13. Distance	
  education	
  possibilities	
  for	
  IL	
  in	
  VET	
  must	
  be	
  explored	
  and	
  fully	
  utilized.	
  	
  
	
  
4.5	
  	
   INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  ADULT	
  LEARNING	
  SECTOR	
  –	
  
            Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  (the	
  grundtvig	
  programme	
  area)	
  	
  
Through	
   EMPATIC’s	
   validation	
   workshops,	
   a	
   process	
   of	
   consultation	
   and	
   the	
   Final	
  
Conference,	
  the	
  following	
  recommendations	
  to	
  policy	
  makers	
  in	
  the	
  adult	
  education/lifelong	
  
learning	
  sector	
  have	
  been	
  identified:	
  	
  
       1.	
  	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   and	
   its	
   specialized	
   fields	
   must	
   be	
   promoted	
   to	
   society,	
  
                  decision	
  makers,	
  politicians,	
  communities	
  and	
  users.	
  	
  
       2.	
  	
   Ministries	
   of	
   education	
   and	
   lifelong	
   learning,	
   departments	
   at	
   higher	
   educational	
  
                  institutions,	
   all	
   relevant	
   institutions	
   and	
   libraries	
   should	
   cooperate	
   with	
   each	
  
                  other.	
  	
  
       3.	
  	
   National	
   strategies	
   should	
   follow	
   from	
   development	
   of	
   a	
   European	
   scheme	
   of	
   IL	
  
                  standards,	
  assessment	
  types	
  and	
  learning	
  outcomes.	
  
       4.	
  	
   Lobbying	
  for	
  the	
  integration	
  of	
  IL	
  into	
  Adult	
  Education	
  &	
  Lifelong	
  Learning	
  must	
  be	
  
                  undertaken	
   to	
   the	
   EU,	
   national	
   politicians,	
   public	
   libraries	
   and	
   all	
   relevant	
  
                  institutions.	
  
       5.	
  	
   Departments	
   of	
   Library	
   and	
   Information	
   Science,	
   information	
   literacy	
  
                  professionals	
   and	
   all	
   relevant	
   bodies	
   should	
   work	
   together	
   to	
   prepare	
   educational	
  
                  content	
  and	
  materials	
  related	
  to	
  Information	
  Literacy.	
  	
  
       6.	
  	
   The	
  learner	
  must	
  be	
  more	
  active	
  and	
  become	
  a	
  partner	
  in	
  the	
  process.	
  
       7.	
  	
   The	
  media	
  are	
  very	
  important;	
  these	
  can	
  include	
  music,	
  radio,	
  local	
  newspapers,	
  
                  and	
  popular	
  activities	
  such	
  as	
  drama	
  and	
  local	
  associations.	
  
       8.	
  	
   IL	
  should	
  be	
  integrated	
  into	
  all	
  Lifelong	
  Learning	
  activities	
  that	
  are	
  run	
  by	
  various	
  
                  organizations	
  in	
  a	
  practical	
  way,	
  this	
  could	
  be	
  through	
  financial	
  information,	
  health	
  
                  education,	
  cultural	
  information,	
  etc.	
  
                                                                                                                                                18	
  

	
  
 
        9.	
  	
   International	
   cooperation	
   concerning	
   Adult	
   Education	
   and	
   Information	
   Literacy	
  
                   should	
  be	
  developed.	
  	
  
        10.	
  	
   Consequently,	
   advocating	
   IL	
   must	
   be	
   undertaken	
   on	
   national,	
   local,	
   community	
  
                    and	
  institutional	
  levels	
  simultaneously.	
  
        11.	
   Modern	
   technologies	
   to	
   apply	
   IL	
   in	
   Adult	
   Education	
   &	
   Life	
   Long	
   Learning	
   (e.g.	
  
                Web2.0,	
  e-­‐conferences)	
  must	
  be	
  utilized.	
  
        12.	
  Public	
  Libraries	
  have	
  a	
  very	
  important	
  role	
  to	
  play	
  in	
  the	
  application	
  of	
  IL	
  in	
  Adult	
  
               Education	
   and	
   Lifelong	
   Learning	
   and	
   therefore	
   have	
   to	
   be	
   helped	
   in	
   order	
   to	
  
               succeed	
  in	
  it.	
  
	
  
4.6.	
  	
   INFORMATION	
  LITERACY	
  IN	
  THE	
  FOUR	
  LEARNING	
  SECTORS	
  (SCHOOL,	
  
             HIGHER	
  EDUCATION,	
  VOCATIONAL	
  EDUCATION	
  AND	
  TRAINING,	
  AND	
  
             ADULT/LIFELONG	
  LEARNING)	
  –	
  GENERAL,	
  NON-­‐SECTOR	
  SPECIFIC	
  
             Recommendations	
  to	
  Policy	
  Makers	
  made	
  by	
  the	
  final	
  conferences	
  
             participants	
  	
  

As	
  a	
  result	
  the	
  following	
  general	
  recommendations	
  of	
  both	
  strategic	
  and	
  tactical	
  nature	
  have	
  
been	
  formulated:	
  

        1.     Information	
  Literacy	
  is	
  vital	
  for	
  the	
  today’s	
  society	
  in	
  Europe	
  and	
  as	
  such	
  should	
  be	
  
               developed	
  and	
  promoted	
  in	
  different	
  contexts	
  and	
  by	
  various	
  means.	
  	
  
        2.     The	
   importance	
   of	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   needs	
   to	
   be	
   publicized	
   not	
   only	
   to	
  
               governments,	
   ministries	
   and	
   policy	
   makers	
   at	
   national	
   and	
   EU	
   levels	
   but	
   also	
   to	
  
               local	
  authorities,	
  businesses,	
  small	
  social	
  groups	
  and	
  all	
  citizens.	
  	
  
        3.     The	
  strategy	
  of	
  IL	
  development	
  should	
  encompass	
  two	
  main	
  lines	
  of	
  action:	
  	
  
                o     IL	
   awareness	
   building	
   among	
   authorities	
   and	
   governments	
   at	
   national	
   and	
  
                      European	
  levels	
  
                o     Substantial,	
  real	
  work,	
  “step	
  by	
  step”,	
  “project	
  by	
  project”	
  on	
  the	
  local	
  level	
  
                      by	
  individual	
  schools,	
  universities,	
  libraries,	
  etc.	
  
        4.     Most	
   participants	
   expressed	
   the	
   feeling	
   that	
   “slow”	
   strategy,	
   based	
   on	
   “small	
  
               projects”	
   addressed	
   to	
   different	
   target	
   groups,	
   communities,	
   professions,	
   etc.	
  
               would	
   be	
   more	
   effective	
   than	
   having	
   a	
   central	
   EU	
   body	
   responsible	
   for	
   the	
   IL	
  
               development	
  or	
  the	
  formal	
  European	
  IL	
  policy	
  directives.	
  Thus,	
  the	
  “IL	
  awareness	
  
               building”	
   and	
   “central	
   goals”	
   approach	
   clearly	
   prevailed	
   over	
   the	
   “central	
  
               steering”	
   one.	
   Also,	
   having	
   clearly	
   stated	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   goals	
   (national,	
  
               European)	
   may	
   help	
   to	
   convince/influence	
   local	
   authorities	
   to	
   support	
   IL	
  
               development	
  programmes.	
  	
  
        5.     “Incentives	
  work	
  better	
  than	
  orders”,	
  meaning	
  that	
  IL	
  development	
  policy	
  based	
  
               on	
   incentives	
   for	
   those	
   who	
   introduce	
   IL	
   (teachers,	
   librarians,	
   businesses,	
   local	
  
               authorities)	
  would	
  be	
  an	
  effective	
  strategy.	
  EMPATIC	
  had	
  started	
  a	
  process	
  for	
  the	
  
               identification	
  of	
  past	
  experience	
  and	
  development	
  of	
  case	
  studies	
  of	
  good	
  practice	
  
               through	
   EC-­‐funded	
   programmes.	
   However,	
   this	
   approach	
   should	
   be	
   extended	
   to	
  
               all	
   known	
   IL	
   and	
   Information	
   Competencies	
   projects.	
   This	
   is	
   important	
   for	
   policy	
  
               makers.	
  	
  

                                                                                                                                                19	
  

	
  
 

5.	
  	
  CONCLUSIONS	
  	
  
	
  
To	
   sum	
   up,	
   the	
   recommendations	
   related	
   to	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   development	
   on	
   the	
  
national	
  and	
  international	
  scale	
  are	
  as	
  follows:	
  	
  
        • 	
  	
   initiating	
   and	
   promoting	
   activities	
   associated	
   with	
   the	
   provision	
   of	
   access	
   to	
  
                   information	
  and	
  the	
  reducing	
  of	
  barriers	
  in	
  the	
  use	
  of	
  it	
  –	
  creating	
  and	
  maintaining	
  
                   the	
  infrastructure	
  to	
  meet	
  information	
  needs	
  (e.g.	
  digitisation);	
  
        • 	
  	
   including	
   Information	
   Literacy	
   in	
   the	
   national	
   strategies	
   for	
   Lifelong	
   Learning,	
   the	
  
                   development	
  of	
  IL	
  competences	
  should	
  be	
  a	
  part	
  of	
  the	
  national	
  LLL	
  projects;	
  	
  
        • 	
  	
   assessing	
  the	
  existing	
  “starting”	
  level	
  of	
  IL	
  competences	
  in	
  various	
  social	
  groups;	
  	
  
        • 	
  	
   creating	
   national	
   policies	
   to	
   involve	
   various	
   IL	
   stakeholders,	
   i.e.	
   business,	
  
                   educational,	
   governmental	
   and	
   labour	
   market	
   institutions,	
   libraries,	
   NGOs,	
   in	
   the	
  
                   training	
  of	
  information	
  competences;	
  
        • 	
  	
   determining	
   a	
   set	
   of	
   indicators	
   of	
   the	
   IL	
   development	
   at	
   the	
   national	
   level,	
   to	
   be	
  
                   able	
  to	
  verify	
  the	
  extent	
  to	
  which	
  national	
  IL	
  policies	
  are	
  realized	
  (compare	
  Towards	
  
                   Information	
  Literacy	
  Indicators	
  by	
  UNESCO,	
  Catts	
  and	
  Lau,	
  2008);	
  
        • 	
  	
   creating	
   the	
   working	
   networks	
   of	
   institutions	
   involved	
   in	
   the	
   IL	
   education	
   and	
  
                   training	
   central	
   and	
   local	
   governments,	
   libraries,	
   educational	
   institutions,	
   labour	
  
                   market	
  institutions,	
  NGOs,	
  etc.	
  ;	
  
        • 	
  	
   including	
  IL	
  to	
  curricula	
  of	
  general	
  and	
  specialized	
  education	
  at	
  all	
  levels;	
  
        • 	
  	
   introducing	
  IL	
  into	
  the	
  standards	
  of	
  teachers’	
  training.	
  	
  
	
  
All	
   EMPATIC	
   partners	
   and	
   stakeholder	
   communities	
   are	
   now	
   encouraged	
   to	
   take	
   up,	
  
promote	
   and	
   implement	
   the	
   findings	
   and	
   recommendations	
   to	
   begin	
   the	
   process	
   of	
  
influencing	
  policy	
  makers.	
  




                                                                                                                                                            20	
  

	
  
 
	
  

REFERENCES	
  	
  
       	
  
              1.   Catts,	
  Ralph;	
  Lau,	
  Jesus	
  (2008).	
  Towards	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  Indicators.	
  [online].	
  
                   Available	
  at:	
  http://www.ifla.org/files/information-­‐literacy/publications/towards-­‐
                   information-­‐literacy_2008-­‐en.pdf	
  [Retrieved	
  29	
  December	
  2011]	
  
              2.   Europa,	
  Summaries	
  of	
  EU	
  Legislation	
  (2011a).	
  Key	
  competences	
  for	
  lifelong	
  
                   learning.	
  [online].	
  Available	
  at	
  
                   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learni
                   ng/c11090_en.htm	
  [Retrieved	
  15	
  January	
  2012]	
  	
  
              3.   Europa,	
  Summaries	
  of	
  EU	
  Legislation	
  (2011b).	
  European	
  area	
  of	
  lifelong	
  learning.	
  
                   [online].	
  Available	
  at	
  
                   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learni
                   ng/c11054_en.htm	
  [Retrieved	
  16	
  January	
  2012]	
  
              4.   European	
  Commission	
  (2008).	
  The	
  European	
  Qualifications	
  Framework	
  for	
  Lifelong	
  
                   Learning	
  (EQF)	
  [online].	
  Available	
  at:	
  
                   http://ec.europa.eu/education/pub/pdf/general/eqf/broch_en.pdf	
  [Retrieved	
  2	
  
                   January	
  2012]	
  
              5.   European	
  Commission,	
  Directorate-­‐General	
  for	
  Education	
  and	
  Culture	
  (2004).	
  
                   Common	
  European	
  principles	
  for	
  validation	
  of	
  non-­‐formal	
  and	
  informal	
  learning	
  
                   [online].	
  Available	
  at:	
  
                   http://www.uk.ecorys.com/europeaninventory/publications/EC_common_principl
                   es_validation_20040303.pdf	
  [Retrieved	
  2	
  January	
  2012]	
  
              6.   European	
  Commission,	
  Education	
  and	
  Training	
  (2011).	
  Strategic	
  framework	
  for	
  
                   education	
  and	
  training.	
  [online].	
  Available	
  at:	
  
                   http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐policy/doc28_en.htm	
  [Retrieved	
  
                   29	
  December	
  2011]	
  
              7.   European	
  Commission,	
  Education,	
  Audiovisual	
  and	
  Culture	
  Executive	
  Agency	
  
                   EACEA	
  (2009	
  –	
  ).	
  Lifelong	
  Learning.	
  [online].	
  Available	
  at:	
  
                   http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/	
  [Retrieved	
  28	
  December	
  2011]	
  
              8.   European	
  Commission,	
  European	
  Qualifications	
  Framework	
  (2011).	
  About	
  EQF.	
  
                   [online].	
  Available	
  at	
  http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/about_en.htm	
  [Retrieved	
  15	
  
                   January	
  2012]	
  	
  
              9.   Lau,	
  Jesus	
  (2006).	
  IFLA	
  Guidelines	
  on	
  Information	
  Literacy	
  for	
  Lifelong	
  Learning.	
  Final	
  
                   Draft.	
  [online].	
  Available	
  at:	
  http://www.ifla.org/files/information-­‐
                   literacy/publications/ifla-­‐guidelines-­‐en.pdf	
  [Retrieved	
  2	
  January	
  2012]	
  

              10. UNESCO,	
  Information	
  for	
  All	
  Programme	
  (IFAP)	
  (2011).	
  [online]	
  Available	
  at:	
  
                  http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-­‐and-­‐
                  information/intergovernmental-­‐programmes/information-­‐for-­‐all-­‐programme-­‐
                  ifap/about-­‐ifap/objectives/	
  [Retrieved	
  2	
  January	
  2012]	
  	
  
	
  




                                                                                                                                                  21	
  

	
  
 
	
  




                                                                      	
  
                    http://empat-­‐ic.eu/eng/	
  
       Project	
  funded	
  by	
  the	
  European	
  Commission	
  
          under	
  the	
  Lifelong	
  Learning	
  Programme	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  




                                                                             22	
  

	
  

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EMPATIC - Exploitation Strategy

  • 1.     Exploitation  Strategy   Author:     Sabina  Cisek   Contributing  Authors:     Carla  Basili,  Monika  Krakowska,  Carol  Priestley,  Maria  Próchnicka,     Magdalena  Wójcik,  Bulent  Yilmaz       Ver:  0.3     This  project  has  been  funded  with  support  from  the  European  Commission     1        
  • 2.               Empower Autonomous Learning through Information Competencies           Exploitation  Strategy     Author:     Sabina  Cisek,     Contributing  Authors:     Carla  Basili,  Monika  Krakowska,  Carol  Priestley,  Maria   Próchnicka,  Magdalena  Wójcik,  Bulent  Yilmaz                     This  project  has  been  funded  with  support  from  the  European  Commission     This  publication  reflects  the  views  only  of  the  authors,  and  the  Commission  cannot  be  held   responsible  for  any  use  which  may  be  made  of  the  information  contained  therein               2    
  • 3.   EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY     The  present  report  constitutes  the  delivery  D7.1  of  the  Work  Package  7:  Exploitation  strategy.     The  core  objectives  of  the  EMPATIC  project  are  to:   1. draw   together   and   valorise   the   results   of   previous   Information   Literacy   initiatives   and   projects  across  the  school,  university,  adult  and  vocational  learning  sectors;     2. use  this  evidence  to  influence  policy  makers’  perceptions  and  actions  to  support  a  marked   increase  in  piloting  and  mainstreaming  of  Information  Literacy;   3. have   a   significant   impact   on   validating   new   learning   paradigms   and   strategic   thinking   on   curriculum  reform.   Within  the  work  plan  of  EMPATIC,  the  Work  Package  7  is  aimed  to  provide  a  strategy  and  set  of   recommendations   setting   out   ways   and   means   to   improve   the   spread   and   level   of   Information   Literacy  at  both  transversal  level  and  across  the  four  sectors.   It   also   proposes   a   future   means   of   stakeholder   community   ownership   and   maintenance   of   the   portal  environment.         3    
  • 4.   TABLE  OF  CONTENTS       EXECUTIVE  SUMMARY  .................................................................................................................  3   SECTION  1:  INTRODUCTION  .........................................................................................................  5   SECTION  2:  STRATEGY  ..................................................................................................................  6   2.1.     EmPatic  impact  and  sustainability  ..........................................................................................  6   2.2.     strategy  of  il  promotion  ....................................................................................................  7   SECTION  3:  SUMMARY  FINDINGS   .................................................................................................  7   3.1.     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  SCHOOL  SECTOR  ...........................  7   3.2.     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION  SECTOR  ........  8   3.3     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  VOCATIONAL  EDUCATION  AND   TRAINING  SECTOR  ...................................................................................................................  9   3.4     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  ADULT  EDUCATION  /  LIFELONG   LEARNING  SECTOR  ................................................................................................................  10   SECTION  4:  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  POLICY  MAKERS  ...............................................................  11   4.1     CONTEXT  ...............................................................................................................................  12   4.2     Information  Literacy  in  the  school  learning  sector  –Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the   Comenius  programme  area)  .................................................................................................  15   4.3     Informtioan  Literacy  in  the  Higher  Education  learning  sector  (HE)  Recommendations  to   Policy  Makers  (the  Erasmus  programme  area)  .....................................................................  16   4.4     Information  Literacy  in  the  vocational  education  and  training  sector  (VET)   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  programme  area)  ..................  17   4.5     Information  Literacy  in  the  adult  learning  sector  –  Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the   grundtvig  programme  area)   ..................................................................................................  18   4.6.     Information  Literacy  in  the  four  learning  sectors  (school,  higher  education,  vocational   education  and  training,  and  adult/lifelong  learning)  –  General,  Non-­‐sector  Specific   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  made  by  the  final  conferences  participants  ...............  19   5.    CONCLUSIONS   .......................................................................................................................  20   REFERENCES  ..............................................................................................................................  21     4    
  • 5.   SECTION  1:  INTRODUCTION       The   present   text   constitutes   the   Deliverable  7.1   of   the   Work   Package   7  of   the   EMPATIC   project.  It   utilises  the  results  of  all  of  the  project’s  work  and  evidence  gained  to  date  in  formulating  a  set  of   recommendations   to   policy   makers   about   Information   Literacy   (IL).   The   main   purpose   of   those   recommendations  is  to  stimulate  action  at  national  levels.     The   EMPATIC   project   is   funded   under   the   EU   Lifelong   Learning   Programme   (LLP)   and   has   a   transversal   nature.   Consequently,   the   present   document   exposes   the   educational   side   of   the   Information   Literacy   development   and   takes   into   account   four   learning   sectors   encompassed   by   LLP,  related  to  the  four  ongoing  sectoral  programmes,  that  is  school  (Comenius),  higher  education   (Erasmus),  vocational  (Leonardo  da  Vinci)  and  adult  (Grundtvig)  ones.     The   Deliverable   7.1,   embraces   the   IL-­‐related   strategy   and   recommendations,   is   aimed   at   setting   out  ways  and  means  to  improve  the  spread  and  level  of  Information  Literacy  at  both  transversal   level  and  across  the  four  learning  sectors.     As   it   makes   a   part   of   the   larger   work   and   should   be   read   together   with   the   previous   EMPATIC   products,  in  particular  –  the  Deliverable  1.1,  where  the  concept  of  Information  Literacy  (IL)  itself   has  been  discussed  and  defined.  Also,  in  the  Deliverable  1.1,  entitled  “Report  on  current  state  and   best   practices   in   Information   Literacy”,   various   aspects,   dimensions   and   levels   of   IL   have   been   meticulously  characterized  on  the  basis  of  the  extensive  literature  research.     In   addition,   EMPATIC   hosted   two   events   for   the   IL   stakeholders   and   policy   makers   (academics,   educators,   IL   authors,   information   professionals,   librarians,   school   and   HE   authorities,   teachers,   etc.)  to  verify  findings  and  recommendations.     The  first  one  was  the  International  Conference  “Literacy  and  Society,  Culture,  Media,  &  Education”   [http://www.literacyconference2012.ugent.be/],   held   on   9-­‐11   February   2012   in   Ghent,   Belgium,   and  organized  by  the  Department  of  Educational  Studies  of  Ghent  University  in  cooperation  with   the  EMPATIC  and  EMSOC  (User  Empowerment  in  a  Social  Media  Culture,  http://emsoc.be/)  teams.     The   second   one,   that   of   the   Final   Conference,   was   organized   in   conjunction   with   EMMILE   (the   European   Meeting   on   Media   and   Information   Literacy,   http://emmile.wordpress.com/)   in   Milan,   Italy  on  27-­‐29  February  2012.     This   paper   consists   of   the   four   sections,   although   the   ones   of   main   importance   are   the   sections   “Summary  Findings”  and  “Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers”.       5    
  • 6.   SECTION  2:  STRATEGY       In  Section  2  we  discuss  two  interrelated  but  not  dissimilar  issues,  that  is:     • How   to   properly   exploit   findings   of   the   EMPATIC   project   after   it   is   completed?   What   steps  can  be  taken  for  continued  sustainability  and  impact  of  EMPATIC?  How  to  make   its  results  lastingly  useful  for  1)  general  public  and  2)  specified  target  groups?     • How  to  promote  the  importance  of  Information  Literacy  to  policy  makers?    What  kind   of  strategy  needs  to  be  implemented  in  this  respect?       2.1.     EMPATIC  IMPACT  AND  SUSTAINABILITY     The  means  and  ways  to  ensure  continued  sustainability  and  impact  of  EMPATIC  are  as  follows:     2.1.1 The  EMPATIC  official  website  http://empat-­‐ic.eu/  and  other  webpages  and  blogs  related  to   the  project  should  be  maintained  and  updated  also  after  the  EMPATIC  project  is  formally   completed.         EMPATIC  PMB  members  discussed  this  point  very  carefully.    Two  possible  hosts  became  possible   to  consider:   a) European   network   for   Information   Literacy   (EnIL):   coordinated   by   one   of   the   EMPATIC   project  partners  CERIS,  and   b) the  European  Conference  for  Information  Literacy  (ECIL)  –  a  new  informal  association   of   significant   persons   and   institutions   committed   to   IL,   with   the   intention   to   host   an   annual   conference   to   discuss   issues   emerging   as   important   or   to   be   resolved   in   the   field.   After   considering   all   aspects,   the   PMB   selected   EnIL   as   the   future   host   of   the   website.     Familiarisation  and  training  was  provided  by  MDR  and  the  maintenance  of  the  website  transferred   to  EnIL  in  March  2012.       2.1.2 Project   members   will   write   articles   related   to   EMPATIC   and   Information   Literacy   and   publish  them  in  professional/scholarly  journals  or  collective  works,  in  different  languages,   not  only  English.     2.1.3 Project  members  will  take  part  in  the  appropriate  national  and  international  conferences   speaking  about  EMPATIC-­‐related  matters.  At  the  time  of  writing  this  report,  events  where   the   findings   and   recommendations   of   EMPATIC   will   be   promoted   and   discussed   already   include:     • QQML4  in  Limerick,  Ireland,  May  2012     • The   Road   to   Information   Literacy:   Librarians   as   Facilitators   of   Learning,   IFLA   Satellite   meeting  in  Tampere,  Finland,  August  8,  9,  10,  2012     • World  Congress  on  Libraries  and  Information  (WLIC),  14-­‐18th  August  2012,  Helsinki   • Media  &  Learning  Conference  2012,  14-­‐15  November,  Brussels   • Collaboration  with  organizations  interested  in  the  IL  development,  both  international,   including  UNESCO,  and  national  like  Komisja  Edukacji  Informacyjnej  SBP  in  Poland.         6    
  • 7.   A  meeting  with  UNESCO  and  IFLA  has  been  planned  for  14  August  2012,  where  discussion  will  take   place   on   collaboration   between   the   UNESCO   work   in   curriculum   and   IL   indicators   and   potential   EMPATIC  work  in  the  area  of  policy.     2.2.     STRATEGY  OF  IL  PROMOTION     As   many   organizations   are   involved   in   the   field   of   IL,   a   number   of   additional   measures   to   increase   the   involvement   of   communities,   Government,   academic,   non-­‐profit,   and   different   social   groups   through  activities  can  be  employed.  These  should  have  the  aims  to:   •     provide   a  forum  for  discussion  and  for  advice  to  decision  makers,  committees,  or  other   executive  boards;   •     inform  and  advise  on  behalf  of  decision  makers,  including  development  of  good  practice   and  providing  expertise;   •     assist  practitioners  in  developing  policy  and  practice  and  stimulates  further  development   of  policy  and  strategic  thinking;   •     provide  a  route  for  communicating  with  IL  interests  and  professional  groups.       SECTION  3:  SUMMARY  FINDINGS       In   Section   3   we   discuss   summary   findings   of   the   entire   EMPATIC   project   (desk   research,   discussions,  four  sectoral  validation  workshops,  two  international  final  conferences).       3.1.     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  SCHOOL  SECTOR     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   process,   the   important   issues   for   Information   Literacy   (IL)   in   the   Schools  Sector  have  been  identified  to  include:   • IL  development  strategies  in  European  countries  are  “taken-­‐for-­‐granted”  but  valid  IL  policy   assumptions  do  not  necessarily  exist;   • a   detailed   Information   Literacy   strategy   is   needed.   However,   educational   systems,   information  cultures,  and  experiences  with  IL  development  in  every  EU  country  are  different,   so   what   works   in   one   part   of   Europe   may   not   work   in   the   other.   As   a   result   it   would   be   better   to   formulate   European   Information   Literacy   standards   in   terms   of   learning   outcomes;   these   would   identify   a   set   of   IL   goals   to   be   achieved   in   different   appropriate   ways   and   by   various   means   within   formal,   informal   and   non-­‐formal   learning   environments.   In   other   words,   the   aims   of   IL   should   be   the   same   across   Europe   in   general,   but   IL   development   strategies  need  to  be  national  in  specifics;   • who   is   to   be   responsible   for   the   introduction   and   development   of   Information   Literacy?   Should   it   be   a   central   national   body?   The   answer   is   not   simple.   Generally,   central   bodies   are   appropriate  to  set  goals  but  the  cooperative  work  of  all  interested  parties  and  stakeholders   at  local  level,  in  local  communities,  is  where  real  work  is  or  can  be  achieved;     7    
  • 8.   • the   young   generation,   so-­‐called   “digital   natives”,   do   not   necessarily   have   an   “inherent”   culture   of   information;   they   also   must   undergo   education   and   training   in   the   field   of   Information  Literacy;     • school  management  and  teachers  are  the  most  important  stakeholders  in  the  schools  sector,   they   must   be   aware   of   what   Information   Literacy   is,   why   it   is   so   important   and   how   to   learn/teach  IL  in  schools;     • librarians  and  information  professionals,  who  are  traditionally  engaged  in  IL-­‐related  matters   everywhere,  must  cooperate  with  all  other  parties/stakeholders  involved  in  the  educational   processes,  to  include:  headmasters,  teachers,  parents,  students,  local  authorities,  and  other   people  having  important  social  functions  in  their  local  communities.       3.2.     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION   SECTOR     Developing  lifelong  learners  is  central  to  the  mission  of  higher  education  institutions.  Colleges  and   universities   provide   their   graduates   with   the   foundation   for   continued   growth   throughout   their   future   careers,   as   well   as   in   their   roles   as   informed   citizens   and   members   of   communities   by   ensuring   that   individuals   have   the   intellectual   abilities   of   reasoning   and   critical   thinking,   and   by   helping  them  to  construct  a  framework  for  learning  how  to  learn.  As  has  already  been  stressed,   Information  Literacy  is  a  key  component  of,  and  contributor  to,  lifelong  learning.   Through  EMPATIC’s  validation  process,  it  has  been  determined  that:   • Information   Literacy   is   internationally   recognised   as   a   requisite   of   the   Information   Society   and  of  the  Knowledge  Economy;   • the  labour  market  requires  flexibility  in  terms  of  professional  self-­‐requalification  and  lifelong   learning   attitude.   This,   in   turn,   requires   individuals   –   inter   alia–   to   dominate   the   current   information  environment  in  HE.   The  major  challenge  to  IL  in  the  HE  sector  is  curricular  reform,  where  a  number  of  elements  are  to   be  considered,  including:   • learning  outcomes;   • recognition  of  informal  learning;   • flexible,   modernised   curricula   at   all   levels   which   correspond   to   the   needs   of   the   labour   market  (transversal  skills).   8    
  • 9.   These  challenges  lead  to  a  number  of  questions:   • is   Information   Literacy   a   discipline   of   study?   A   strong   assumption   underlying   the   institutionalisation   of   IL   is   to   recognise   that   it   is   a   discipline   in   its   own   right,   to   be   conceived   mainly  as  "knowledge"  rather  than  "ability";   • can   Information   Literacy   be   inserted   into   university   curricula,   for   example,   like   Computer   Science?  IL  is  a  diffused  discipline;  it  is  transversal  and  useful  to  every  course  of  study;   • how   can   Information   Literacy   be   inserted   into   the   Bologna   process?   A   first   step   should   be   promoting   awareness   of   the   importance   of   IL   amongst   academics   and   policy   makers;   a   second   step   could   be   to   insert   IL   among   the   learning   outcomes   of   European   universities,   particularly,  among  the  so-­‐called  “generic  instrumental  competencies”.       3.3     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  VOCATIONAL   EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING  SECTOR     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   process,   the   functions   of   Information   Literacy   in   the   Vocational   Education  and  Training  sector  have  been  determined:   • IL  is  essential  for  productivity  and  efficiency  at  work;   • IL  is  a  main  provision  for  personal  and  institutional  development;   • IL  is  related  to  the  concepts  of  ongoing  education,  lifelong  learning  and  self-­‐education;   • IL  facilitates  the  adaptation  of  changes  and/or  development  at  work;   • IL  provides  a  work  force  of  high  quality;     • IL  supports  economic  growth.   Challenges  and  recommendations  to  the  sector  have  been  identified  and  include:   • lack   of   awareness   of   the   importance   of   Information   Literacy   by   decision   makers   and   politicians.  It  is  not  yet  fully  recognised  that  people  outside  formal  education  can  gain  the   competence  of  Information  Literacy  via  VET;   • lack   of   awareness   on   the   level   of   Society;   they   do   not   understand   that   many   of   the   problems   they   face   in   utilizing   information   and   communication   technologies   (ICTs)   in   social  life  are  caused  by  a  lack  of  Information  Literacy;   • lack   of   recognition   of   the   relationship   between   Vocational   Education   and   Information   Literacy.  Information  Literacy  is  or  should  be  a  key  component  of  vocational  education;   • lack   of   sufficient   coordination   and   cooperation   within   and   between   related   formal   and   civil   institutions   working   in   VET.   This   leads   to   unproductiveness   and   wastage   in   resources   in  VET  activities;   • lack  of  national  policies  in  the  subject  of  Vocational  Education  means  that  VET  activities   cannot  be  determined  at  a  national  level;  activities  are  often  ad  hoc  and  their  consistency   cannot  be  realized  or  maintained.     9    
  • 10.     3.4     SUMMARY  FINDINGS  –  INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  ADULT  EDUCATION  /   LIFELONG  LEARNING  SECTOR     Through  EMPATIC’s  validation  process,  the  important  issues  for  Information  Literacy  (IL)  in  the   adult  education/lifelong  learning  sector  have  been  identified  to  include:   •     IL  is  essential  for  the  development,  prosperity  and  freedom  of  society;   •     IL   contributes   to   the   personal,   social,   occupational   and   educational   level   of   society   and   individuals;   •     IL  is  related  to  the  concepts  of  ongoing  education,  self-­‐education,  vocational  training;   •     IL  facilitates  the  adaptation  of  changes  and  development  at  work;   •     IL   effects   productivity   and   work   efficiency,   and   contributes   to   the   improvement   of   the   quality;   •     IL  is  essential  for  people  and  organisations  to  survive  and  develop  themselves;   •     IL  supports  economic  growth;   •     IL  is,  therefore,  a  basic  human  right  that  promotes  social  inclusion  in  all  nations  (IFAP  mid-­‐ term  strategy  2008-­‐2013     http://portal.unesco.org/.../12114609343ifap.../ifap_draf_strategic_plan.pdf).       10    
  • 11.   It  has  been  perceived  that:   • there   is   a   low   level   of   awareness   of   Information   Literacy   at   the   level   of   Society:   society   is   not  yet  persuaded  of  its  importance;   • IL   channels   face   difficulties   in   spreading   knowledge   of   the   role   and   the   necessity   of   Information   Literacy   in   politics   as   well   as   in   real   life   (school,   higher   education,   jobs,   employees  etc.);   • politicians   and   decision   makers   should   pay   attention   to   the   potential   of   IL   in   social   coherence.   National   governments   have   a   specific   responsibility   as   they   determine   the   form   and   content   of   educational   systems   in   which   pupils   are   prepared   for   their   future   lives   as   responsible   and   participative   citizens.   If   IL   could   be   linked   through   to   employment,  decision  makers  will  be  persuaded  to  accept  it;   • there   is   poor   visibility   of   IL   courses   in   both   formal   and   informal   educational   sectors.   IL   starts   in   schools   and   continues   through   to   higher   education   but   the   IL   process   is   problematic  outside  formal  education;   • there  is  the  lack  of  coordination  and  cooperation  amongst  different  IL  stakeholders;  and,     • there  is  a  lack  of  recognition  for  libraries’  innovative  role  in  the  IL  development  and  the   central  role  librarians  can  and  do  play.     SECTION  4:  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  POLICY  MAKERS     In   Section   4   we   formulate   a   set   of   Information   Literacy   development   recommendation   to   policy   makers  in  Europe.       Information  Literacy  is  understood  here  as  the  important  social  objective,  what  means  it  is  seen  as   a   prerequisite   for   the   Information   Society,   the   objective   of   educational   policy,   it   also   implies   a   massive  operation  and  requires  changes  in  the  education  systems.  Of  course,  Information  Literacy   as   social   objective   is   inevitably   connected   with   the   IL   as   cognitive   acquisition   of   individuals,   a   competence  of  general  character  or  “liberal  art”  (see  Deliverable  1.1,  p.  64-­‐68).   Our  recommendations  are  addressed  to  all  and  different  IL  stakeholders  in  Europe,  but  the  main   ones   might   be   the   national   bodies   responsible   for   the   Lifelong   Learning   (LLL)   and   National   Qualifications   Frameworks   (NQR)   development1.   The   other   important   groups   of   addressees   are   educators  and  the  education  authorities  as  well  as  library  and  information  professionals.     All  recommendations  offered  here  are  based  on  the  entire  EMPATIC  project  findings  and  products   up   to   date,   including   the   previous   Deliverables,   in   particular   of   numbers   1.1,   4.1,   4.2,   5.1,   5.2,   5.3,   5.4  and  6.1,  the  discussions  during  the  four  validation  workshops  and  two  final  conferences,  that  is   “Literacy  and  Society,  Culture,  Media  and  Education”  in  Ghent,  Belgium  (9-­‐11  February  2012)  and   “EMMILE   European   Meeting   on   Media   and   Information   Literacy”   in   Milan,   Italy   (27-­‐29   February   2012).     The  main  purpose  of  the  EMPATIC  recommendations  is  to  stimulate  action.                                                                                                                   1 See the Lifelong Learning Programme National Agencies at http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐ programme/doc1208_en.htm, and the EQF National Coordination Points at http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/uploads/file/EQF%20National%20Coordination%20Points.pdf). 11    
  • 12.   4.1     CONTEXT     The  European  Area  of  Lifelong  Learning     The  main  context  for  the  recommendations  is/should  be  the   E u r o p e a n   A r e a   o f   L i f e l o n g   L e a r n i n g   (Europa,   Summaries   of   EU   Legislation   2011b,   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11054_en. htm),  and  the  commitments  and  responsibilities  involved  by  that  enterprise.     The   policy   of   European   Union   (EU),   despite   the   impression   of   a   huge   impact   on   the   status   of   individual  countries,  the  steps  undertaken  to  create  the  Information  Society,  and  involvement  in   the  promotion  of  Information  Literacy,  is  actually  not  coherent,  lacks  accumulation  and  relevant   linking  between  various  aspects  of  the  IL  area.     Among   the   main   and   important   long-­‐term   strategic   objectives   of   the   EU   education   and   training   policies,   where   the   Information   Literacy   strategy   needs   to   be   transparently   and   openly   implemented,  are:   •     Making  lifelong  learning  and  mobility  a  reality;     •     Improving  the  quality  and  efficiency  of  education  and  training;     •     Promoting  equity,  social  cohesion  and  active  citizenship;     •     Enhancing   creativity   and   innovation,   including   entrepreneurship,   at   all   levels   of   education   and   training   (European   Commission,   Education   and   Training   http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐policy/doc28_en.htm).     At  the  same  time,  the  European  Union  points  to  the  key  competences,  relevant  to  the  objectives   and   tasks   within   Lifelong   Learning   (LLL).   As   the   combination   of   knowledge,   skills   and   attitudes   appropriate  to  the  context,  the  key  competences  are  particularly  necessary  for  personal  fulfilment   and   development,   social   inclusion,   active   citizenship   and   employment.   Among   the   eight   key   competencies,  contained  also  in  the  Information  Literacy  area,  forming  the  basis  for  the  essential   knowledge,   skills   and   attitudes   related   to   each   of   these   there   are:   communication   in   mother   tongue,  communication  in  foreign  languages,  mathematical  competence  and  basic  competences  in   science  and  technology,  digital  competence,  learning  to  learn,  social  and  civic  competences,  sense   of   initiative   and   entrepreneurship,   cultural   awareness   and   expression   (Europa,   Summaries   of   EU   Legislation  2011a,   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11090_en. htm).     12    
  • 13.   Evaluation  of  the  key  competences,  and  also  Information  Literacy,  should  be  a  reference  tool  for   EU  countries  and  their  education  and  training  policies.  The  EU  countries  try  to  ensure:   •     That   initial   education   and   training   offer   all   young   people   the   means   to   develop   the   key   competences  to  a  level  that  equips  them  for  adult  and  working  life,  thus  also  providing  a   basis  for  future  learning;   •     That   appropriate   provision   is   made   for   young   people   who   are   disadvantaged   in   their   training  so  that  they  can  fulfil  their  educational  potential;   •     That  adults  can  develop  and  update  key  competences  throughout  their  lives,  particularly   priority  target  groups  such  as  persons  who  need  to  update  their  competences;   •     That   appropriate   infrastructure   is   in   place   for   continuing   education   and   training   of   adults,   that  there  are  measures  to  ensure  access  to  education  and  training  and  the  labour  market   and  that  there  is  support  for  learners  depending  on  their  specific  needs  and  competences;   •     The  coherence  of  adult  education  and  training  provision  through  close  links  between  the   policies   concerned   (Europa,   Summaries   of   EU   Legislation   2011   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learning/c11 090_en.htm).   The  next  important  enterprise  in  this  area,  the  one  applying  to  four  learning  sectors  and  all  levels   of  education  is  EQF  –  the  European  Qualification  Framework  for  Lifelong  Learning.  In  the  European   Commission  document  we  read:  As  an  instrument  for  the  promotion  of  lifelong  learning,  the  EQF   encompasses   all   levels   of   qualifications   acquired   in   general,   vocational   as   well   as   academic   education  and  training.  Additionally,  the  framework  addresses  qualifications  acquired  in  initial  and   continuing   education   and   training.   The   eight   reference   levels   are   described   in   terms   of   learning   outcomes.  (…)  In  the  EQF  a  learning  outcome  is  defined  as  a  statement  of  what  a  learner  knows,   understands  and  is  able  to  do  on  completion  of  a  learning  process.  The  EQF  therefore  emphasizes   the  results  of  learning  rather  than  focusing  on  inputs  such  as  length  of  study.  Learning  outcomes   are   specified   in   three   categories   –   as   knowledge,   skills   and   competence   (European   Commission   2008,   p.   3).   And   also:   The   EQF   aims   to   relate   different   countries'   national   qualifications   systems   to   a  common  European  reference  framework.  Individuals  and  employers  will  be  able  to  use  the  EQF  to   better   understand   and   compare   the   qualifications   levels   of   different   countries   and   different   education  and  training  systems.  Agreed  upon  by  the  European  institutions  in  2008,  the  EQF  is  being   put  in  practice  across  Europe.  It  encourages  countries  to  relate  their  national  qualifications  systems   to   the   EQF   so   that   all   new   qualifications   issued   from   2012   carry   a   reference   to   an   appropriate   EQF   level  (European  Commission,  European  Qualifications  Framework  2011.   http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/about_en.htm)   It   should   be   also   mentioned   that   the   EQF   framework   is   intended  for  policy  makers,  education  and  training  providers,  employers  and  learners.   13    
  • 14.   Advice   from   the   International   Federation   of   Library   Associations   and   Institutions  (IFLA)     In  the  Guidelines  on  Information  Literacy  for  Lifelong  Learning  (Lau,  2006),  published  by  the   Information   Literacy   Section   of   IFLA   with   the   aim   of   providing   a   pragmatic   framework   for   those   professionals   who   are   interested   in   starting   an   Information   Literacy   program,   Jesus   Lau   identified   the   list   of   actions   to   be   undertaken.   He   writes:   The   complete   success   of   an   information  literacy  program  depends  on  the  commitment  at  the  institutional  level.  However,   a   commitment   is   not   always   present   or   clear   at   top   management   levels.   Therefore,   information  professionals  must  devote  time  to  create  the  relevant  strategies  to  convince  and   sell   the   benefits   of   information   literacy   to   institutional   leaders   to   get   their   support.   The   basic   steps  to  market  information  literacy  programs  (…)  are:   •     Adapt  or  adopt  international  information  literacy  standards  and  practices   •     Identify   the   information   literacy   program   that   works   best   for   you   and   your   institution   •     Adopt  or  design  a  program  based  on  national  and  international  experiences   •     Identify  what  is  required  to  implement  the  program   •     Regard   the   information   literacy   process   as   non-­‐linear,   you   may   skip   steps   and   change  their  order   •     Work   on   a   strategic   plan   to   chart   the   course   of   your   goals   and   actions   –See   Chapter   5  for  specifics   •     Involve   all   relevant   parties   in   the   planning   process:   your   library   team,   faculty/teachers,   administrators,   and   the   final   decision-­‐maker   for   the   project   (Lau,   2006,  p.  20).   Advice  from  the  UNESCO’s  Information  for  All  Programme  (IFAP)     The   Information   for   All   Programme   (IFAP)   is   intended   to   help   UNESCO   Member   States   develop   and   implement   national   information   policies   and   knowledge   strategies   using   information  and  communication  technologies  (ICT).  As  the  other  goals,  also  the  Information   Literacy   commitment   should   be   developed   and   implemented   by   IFAP   worldwide,   through   the  activities  that  should:   •     promote   international   reflection   and   debate   on   the   ethical,   legal   and   societal   challenges  of  the  information  society;   •     promote   and   widen   access   to   information   in   the   public   domain   through   the   organization,  digitization  and  preservation  of  information;   •     support   training,   continuing   education   and   lifelong   learning   in   the   fields   of   communication,  information  and  informatics;   •     support   the   production   of   local   content   and   foster   the   availability   of   indigenous   knowledge  through  basic  literacy  and  ICT  literacy  training;   •     promote   the   use   of   international   standards   and   best   practices   in   communication,   information  and  informatics  in  UNESCO's  fields  of  competence;  and   •     promote   information   and   knowledge   networking   at   local,   national,   regional   and   international  levels  (UNESCO  2011,         http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-­‐and-­‐information/intergovernmental-­‐ programmes/information-­‐for-­‐all-­‐programme-­‐ifap/about-­‐ifap/objectives/).     14    
  • 15.     4.2     INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  SCHOOL  LEARNING  SECTOR  – Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the  Comenius  programme  area)     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   workshops,   a   process   of   consultation   and   the   Final   Conferences,   the   following   recommendations   to   policy   makers   in   the   schools’   sector   have   been  identified:     1. Information   Literacy   and   its   specialized   fields   must   be   promoted   to   society,   decision  makers,  politicians  and  users.     2. Clearly  formulated  national  IL  policy  assumptions  are  required;  some  elements  of   IL   development   strategies   are   present   in   European   countries   but   are   “taken-­‐for-­‐ granted”.   3. National   IL   development   strategies   should   be   flexible   and   built   on   an   all-­‐European   scheme   of   IL   standards,   and   those   in   turn   should   be   formulated   in   terms   of   learning  outcomes.  Consequently  there  is  a  strong  recommendation  to  prepare  IL   standards.   o Detailed   Information   Literacy   strategies   are   needed.   However,   educational   systems,  information  cultures,  and  experiences  with  IL  development  in  every   EU  country  are  different,  so  what  works  in  one  part  of  Europe  may  not  work   in  another.  As  a  result  it  would  be  better  to  formulate  European  Information   Literacy  standards  in  terms  of  learning  outcomes;  these  would  identify  a  set   of   IL   goals   to   be   achieved   in   different   appropriate   ways   and   by   various   means   within   formal,   informal   and   non-­‐formal   learning   environments.   In   other   words,   the   aims   of   IL   should   be   the   same   across   Europe   in   general,   but   IL   development  strategies  need  to  be  national  in  specifics.   4. Ministries  of  education,  departments  of  Library  and  Information  Science  at  higher   educational  institutions  and  relevant  libraries  should  cooperate  with  each  other.   5. Identification   of   roles   for   multi-­‐dimensional   cooperation   of   different   IL   stakeholders   is   crucial   (for   example,   local   authorities   and   other   local   figures,   parents,  school  authorities,  students,  teachers).   o It  is  not  simple  to  indicate  who  is  to  be  responsible  for  the  introduction  and   development  of  Information  Literacy,  but  surely  it  could  be  national,  central   units.   Generally,   central   bodies   are   appropriate   to   set   goals   but   the   cooperative   work   of   all   interested   parties   and   stakeholders   at   local   level,   in   local  communities,  is  where  real  work  is  or  can  be  achieved.   6. School   management   and   teachers   are   the   most   important   stakeholders   in   the   schools   sector,   they   must   be   aware   of   what   Information   Literacy   is,   why   it   is   so   important  and  how  to  learn/teach  IL  in  schools.   o All   the   changes   related   to   Information   Literacy   development   in   the   school   (formal   education)   learning   sector   should   start   with   the   involvement   of   teachers;   they   need   to   be   convinced   and   trained   in   the   IL   didactics.   School   teachers   are   the   basis   of   educational   systems   and   send   the   most   influential   messages  to  their  students/children  in  schools.   7. School  libraries  are  important  and  the  impact  of  the  school  library  function  must   be  shown.   15    
  • 16.   8. Librarians/information   professionals,   who   are   traditionally   engaged   in   IL-­‐related   matters  everywhere,  must  cooperate  with  all  other  parties/stakeholders  involved   in  the  educational  processes,  to  include:  headmasters,  teachers,  parents,  students,   local  authorities,  and  other  people  having  important  social  functions  in  their  local   communities  (police  officers,  fire-­‐fighters,  priests,  etc.).   9. Real   work   at   the   local   level   is   the   most   important   factor   for   IL   development   in   the   school  sector  in  Europe,  and  as  a  result  it  has  to  be  strongly  supported  by  national   and  European  law  and  policy  makers.   10. The   young   generation,   so-­‐called   “digital   natives”,   do   not   necessarily   have   an   “inherent”  culture  of  information;  they  also  must  undergo  education  and  training   in  the  field  of  Information  Literacy.   11. National   education   policies   are   the   power   of   national   governments;   it   is   imperative   to   implement   IL   in   all   school   policies   that   recommend   output-­‐based   learning.     4.3     INFORMTIOAN  LITERACY  IN  THE  HIGHER  EDUCATION  LEARNING  SECTOR  (HE)   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the  Erasmus  programme  area)     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   workshops,   a   process   of   consultation   and   the   Final   Conference,   the   following   set   of   recommendations   has   been   drafted   to   address   different   levels   of   government,   from   the   European   Union,   through   National   and   National   Academic   Systems,  to  the  individual  university  level.   1. Information   Literacy   and   its   specialized   fields   must   be   promoted   to   society,   decision  makers,  politicians  and  users.     2. Ministries  of  education,  departments  of  Library  and  Information  Science  at  higher   educational  institutions  and  relevant  libraries  should  cooperate  with  each  other.     3. European   Higher   Education   Area:   Information   Literacy   should   be   embedded   into   the   Bologna   process   as   a   new   learning   outcome,   in   order   to   fully   legitimise   Information   Literacy   within   and   at   the   level   of   European   Higher   Education   Area   (European  Commission  policy  level).   4. Support  a  European  Information  Literacy  Model:  the  diffusion  of  the  revised  2011   SCONUL  Information  Literacy  model  for  Higher  Education  should  be  supported  as   it   is   a   European   model,   widely   accepted   in   Europe   and   translated   into   various   European  languages.  Originally  (1999)  conceived  for  the  Higher  Education  sector,   its  successful  diffusion  in  European  countries,  led  to  the  definition  of  a  core  model   and   a   number   of   so-­‐called   “lenses”,   each   for   a   different   group   of   learners   (European  Commission  -­‐  Supranational  policy  level).   5. Information  Literacy  must  be  implemented  within  a  curricular  integration  process   in  Higher  Education  courses  of  study,  similar  to  the  process  already  established  for   Computer  Literacy  (University  policy  level).   16    
  • 17.     6. Legitimatise   a   curricular   configuration   for   Information   Literacy   to   be   diffused   in   European   universities   (Academic   system   policy   level).   Three   different   levels,   together  with  number  of  credits,  were  suggested:   o Library  delivered  (2-­‐4  credits)   o Academic  delivered  (4  credits)   o Embedded  (credits  included  within  the  subject  credit  amount)   7. Educational   continuum:   in   the   long   term,   Higher   Education   educational   policies   will  take  large  benefit  from  the  full  integration  of  Information  Literacy  into  school   curricula  (National  policy  level).   8. Syllabus   definition:   syllabi   should   be   tailored   according   to   the   context   of   the   specific   information   habit   of   the   discipline/subject   involved   (University   policy   level).   9. Institutionalisation   of   approach:   a   governance   approach   should   be   supportive   of   the  overall  process  of  Information  Literacy  institutionalisation  in  Higher  Education,   since   it   is   an   issue   crossing   the   domains   of   information   and   education   policies   (Academic  system  policy  level).   Targeting   central   policy   makers   may   have   greater   potential   for   change   than   working   at   local   levels,  through  'slow  research'  and  similar  processes.     4.4     INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  VOCATIONAL  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING   SECTOR  (VET)   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the  Leonardo  da  Vinci  programme   area)     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   workshops,   a   process   of   consultation   and   the   Final   Conference   the   following   recommendations   to   policy   makers   in   the   VET   sector   have   been   identified:     1. National  VET  policies  should  be  developed  and  information  literacy  must  be  a  vital   part  of  these  policies.   2. Awareness   of   IL   should   be   created   for   society,   decision   makers,   politicians   and   users.  In  this  context,  ministries  of  education,  librarians’  associations,  departments   of   information   management   at   universities   and   all   relevant   institutions   should   cooperate  with  each  other.   3. Information   literacy   should   be   integrated   into   the   official   lifelong   learning   programs  of  ministries  of  education.   4. Information   literacy   should   be   integrated   into   the   VET   activities   arranged   by   municipalities,   ministries,   universities   and   the   other   institutions.   In   this   framework,  IL  should  be  connected  to  municipalities  and  ministries.   5. Social  awareness  of  literacy  should  be  included  within  work  culture  and  the  way   employers   view   it;   VET   provides   a   mobile   work   force   and   innovative   economy   within  Europe.     17    
  • 18.   6. In  cooperation  with  library  associations,  Departments  of  Information  Management   and  other  relevant  parties  at  universities  should  organize  projects  and  curriculum   about  information  literacy-­‐VET  to  fulfil  the  holistic  education  of  trainers.   7. Educational   content   and   appropriate   materials   related   to   information   literacy   in   VET  should  be  prepared.   8. Courses  should  be  organized  through  cooperation  with  public  libraries  to  provide   people  with  competence  in  information  literacy.   9. Ministries   should   give   appropriate   consideration   and   recognition   to   the   attendance   and   experience   in   education   on   information   literacy   and   VET   when   considering  workers’  careers.   10. Awareness   of   IL   is   necessary   at   all   levels;   national,   local   and   institutional   bodies   must  work  together.     11. Lobbying   for   IL   in   VET   (and   indeed   all   sectors   of   education)   should   be   made   to   national  government  and  EU  politicians.   12. International   projects   and   cooperation   concerning   VET   and   information   literacy   should  be  developed.     13. Distance  education  possibilities  for  IL  in  VET  must  be  explored  and  fully  utilized.       4.5     INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  ADULT  LEARNING  SECTOR  –   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  (the  grundtvig  programme  area)     Through   EMPATIC’s   validation   workshops,   a   process   of   consultation   and   the   Final   Conference,  the  following  recommendations  to  policy  makers  in  the  adult  education/lifelong   learning  sector  have  been  identified:     1.     Information   Literacy   and   its   specialized   fields   must   be   promoted   to   society,   decision  makers,  politicians,  communities  and  users.     2.     Ministries   of   education   and   lifelong   learning,   departments   at   higher   educational   institutions,   all   relevant   institutions   and   libraries   should   cooperate   with   each   other.     3.     National   strategies   should   follow   from   development   of   a   European   scheme   of   IL   standards,  assessment  types  and  learning  outcomes.   4.     Lobbying  for  the  integration  of  IL  into  Adult  Education  &  Lifelong  Learning  must  be   undertaken   to   the   EU,   national   politicians,   public   libraries   and   all   relevant   institutions.   5.     Departments   of   Library   and   Information   Science,   information   literacy   professionals   and   all   relevant   bodies   should   work   together   to   prepare   educational   content  and  materials  related  to  Information  Literacy.     6.     The  learner  must  be  more  active  and  become  a  partner  in  the  process.   7.     The  media  are  very  important;  these  can  include  music,  radio,  local  newspapers,   and  popular  activities  such  as  drama  and  local  associations.   8.     IL  should  be  integrated  into  all  Lifelong  Learning  activities  that  are  run  by  various   organizations  in  a  practical  way,  this  could  be  through  financial  information,  health   education,  cultural  information,  etc.   18    
  • 19.   9.     International   cooperation   concerning   Adult   Education   and   Information   Literacy   should  be  developed.     10.     Consequently,   advocating   IL   must   be   undertaken   on   national,   local,   community   and  institutional  levels  simultaneously.   11.   Modern   technologies   to   apply   IL   in   Adult   Education   &   Life   Long   Learning   (e.g.   Web2.0,  e-­‐conferences)  must  be  utilized.   12.  Public  Libraries  have  a  very  important  role  to  play  in  the  application  of  IL  in  Adult   Education   and   Lifelong   Learning   and   therefore   have   to   be   helped   in   order   to   succeed  in  it.     4.6.     INFORMATION  LITERACY  IN  THE  FOUR  LEARNING  SECTORS  (SCHOOL,   HIGHER  EDUCATION,  VOCATIONAL  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING,  AND   ADULT/LIFELONG  LEARNING)  –  GENERAL,  NON-­‐SECTOR  SPECIFIC   Recommendations  to  Policy  Makers  made  by  the  final  conferences   participants     As  a  result  the  following  general  recommendations  of  both  strategic  and  tactical  nature  have   been  formulated:   1. Information  Literacy  is  vital  for  the  today’s  society  in  Europe  and  as  such  should  be   developed  and  promoted  in  different  contexts  and  by  various  means.     2. The   importance   of   Information   Literacy   needs   to   be   publicized   not   only   to   governments,   ministries   and   policy   makers   at   national   and   EU   levels   but   also   to   local  authorities,  businesses,  small  social  groups  and  all  citizens.     3. The  strategy  of  IL  development  should  encompass  two  main  lines  of  action:     o IL   awareness   building   among   authorities   and   governments   at   national   and   European  levels   o Substantial,  real  work,  “step  by  step”,  “project  by  project”  on  the  local  level   by  individual  schools,  universities,  libraries,  etc.   4. Most   participants   expressed   the   feeling   that   “slow”   strategy,   based   on   “small   projects”   addressed   to   different   target   groups,   communities,   professions,   etc.   would   be   more   effective   than   having   a   central   EU   body   responsible   for   the   IL   development  or  the  formal  European  IL  policy  directives.  Thus,  the  “IL  awareness   building”   and   “central   goals”   approach   clearly   prevailed   over   the   “central   steering”   one.   Also,   having   clearly   stated   Information   Literacy   goals   (national,   European)   may   help   to   convince/influence   local   authorities   to   support   IL   development  programmes.     5. “Incentives  work  better  than  orders”,  meaning  that  IL  development  policy  based   on   incentives   for   those   who   introduce   IL   (teachers,   librarians,   businesses,   local   authorities)  would  be  an  effective  strategy.  EMPATIC  had  started  a  process  for  the   identification  of  past  experience  and  development  of  case  studies  of  good  practice   through   EC-­‐funded   programmes.   However,   this   approach   should   be   extended   to   all   known   IL   and   Information   Competencies   projects.   This   is   important   for   policy   makers.     19    
  • 20.   5.    CONCLUSIONS       To   sum   up,   the   recommendations   related   to   Information   Literacy   development   on   the   national  and  international  scale  are  as  follows:     •     initiating   and   promoting   activities   associated   with   the   provision   of   access   to   information  and  the  reducing  of  barriers  in  the  use  of  it  –  creating  and  maintaining   the  infrastructure  to  meet  information  needs  (e.g.  digitisation);   •     including   Information   Literacy   in   the   national   strategies   for   Lifelong   Learning,   the   development  of  IL  competences  should  be  a  part  of  the  national  LLL  projects;     •     assessing  the  existing  “starting”  level  of  IL  competences  in  various  social  groups;     •     creating   national   policies   to   involve   various   IL   stakeholders,   i.e.   business,   educational,   governmental   and   labour   market   institutions,   libraries,   NGOs,   in   the   training  of  information  competences;   •     determining   a   set   of   indicators   of   the   IL   development   at   the   national   level,   to   be   able  to  verify  the  extent  to  which  national  IL  policies  are  realized  (compare  Towards   Information  Literacy  Indicators  by  UNESCO,  Catts  and  Lau,  2008);   •     creating   the   working   networks   of   institutions   involved   in   the   IL   education   and   training   central   and   local   governments,   libraries,   educational   institutions,   labour   market  institutions,  NGOs,  etc.  ;   •     including  IL  to  curricula  of  general  and  specialized  education  at  all  levels;   •     introducing  IL  into  the  standards  of  teachers’  training.       All   EMPATIC   partners   and   stakeholder   communities   are   now   encouraged   to   take   up,   promote   and   implement   the   findings   and   recommendations   to   begin   the   process   of   influencing  policy  makers.   20    
  • 21.     REFERENCES       1. Catts,  Ralph;  Lau,  Jesus  (2008).  Towards  Information  Literacy  Indicators.  [online].   Available  at:  http://www.ifla.org/files/information-­‐literacy/publications/towards-­‐ information-­‐literacy_2008-­‐en.pdf  [Retrieved  29  December  2011]   2. Europa,  Summaries  of  EU  Legislation  (2011a).  Key  competences  for  lifelong   learning.  [online].  Available  at   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learni ng/c11090_en.htm  [Retrieved  15  January  2012]     3. Europa,  Summaries  of  EU  Legislation  (2011b).  European  area  of  lifelong  learning.   [online].  Available  at   http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/education_training_youth/lifelong_learni ng/c11054_en.htm  [Retrieved  16  January  2012]   4. European  Commission  (2008).  The  European  Qualifications  Framework  for  Lifelong   Learning  (EQF)  [online].  Available  at:   http://ec.europa.eu/education/pub/pdf/general/eqf/broch_en.pdf  [Retrieved  2   January  2012]   5. European  Commission,  Directorate-­‐General  for  Education  and  Culture  (2004).   Common  European  principles  for  validation  of  non-­‐formal  and  informal  learning   [online].  Available  at:   http://www.uk.ecorys.com/europeaninventory/publications/EC_common_principl es_validation_20040303.pdf  [Retrieved  2  January  2012]   6. European  Commission,  Education  and  Training  (2011).  Strategic  framework  for   education  and  training.  [online].  Available  at:   http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-­‐learning-­‐policy/doc28_en.htm  [Retrieved   29  December  2011]   7. European  Commission,  Education,  Audiovisual  and  Culture  Executive  Agency   EACEA  (2009  –  ).  Lifelong  Learning.  [online].  Available  at:   http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/llp/  [Retrieved  28  December  2011]   8. European  Commission,  European  Qualifications  Framework  (2011).  About  EQF.   [online].  Available  at  http://ec.europa.eu/eqf/about_en.htm  [Retrieved  15   January  2012]     9. Lau,  Jesus  (2006).  IFLA  Guidelines  on  Information  Literacy  for  Lifelong  Learning.  Final   Draft.  [online].  Available  at:  http://www.ifla.org/files/information-­‐ literacy/publications/ifla-­‐guidelines-­‐en.pdf  [Retrieved  2  January  2012]   10. UNESCO,  Information  for  All  Programme  (IFAP)  (2011).  [online]  Available  at:   http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-­‐and-­‐ information/intergovernmental-­‐programmes/information-­‐for-­‐all-­‐programme-­‐ ifap/about-­‐ifap/objectives/  [Retrieved  2  January  2012]       21    
  • 22.       http://empat-­‐ic.eu/eng/   Project  funded  by  the  European  Commission   under  the  Lifelong  Learning  Programme           22