Assessing Undergraduate and Post Graduate Students’ Information Literacy Skills: Scenario and Requirements in Pakistan

Authors

Muhammad Safdar, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, PakistanFollow
Haroon Idrees Dr., University of SargodhaFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess information literacy (IL) skills of post graduate (PG) and undergraduate (UG) students, of one of the premier universities at the national level of Pakistan. It was also intended to explore the students’ opinion about the need of information literacy program and related contents. Quantitative research approach was employed to conduct the study and survey method using structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from 400 respondents using convenient sampling technique. Results of the study revealed that majority of the respondents lacked information literacy skills. However, the major part of the respondents considered the information literacy program to be of value to meet their research and academic needs. Study also shares participants’ recommendations regarding required contents for IL program. This is the study from Pakistan that has been conducted on one of the high ranked Pakistani universities’ students to assess their IL skills and requirements in this aspect. This paper might help students, institutions and library professionals understand the existing scenario of students’ IL skills which may play a vital role in planning to improve the students’ IL skills and designing IL course.