Abstract:
This research paper presents a chronological account of the initiation,
implementation, and conclusion of the joint Sri Lanka-Maldives distance
education program in library and information science. The three-tier diploma
course started in 1996 and was officially completed in 2003. Tier one was
repeated in 2003 but was not continued to other levels. This study explores
the program's origins, implementation, outcome, and challenges. The
research method was toanalyze the publicly accessible Annual Reports of the
Sri Lanka Library Association (SLLA) from 1995 to 2005. The results of the
content analysis were presented in anarrative style. This is the second stage of
a multi-stage research which includes an in-depth literature review on
published research, administrative documents of partner organizations, and
interviews with selected participants.
Although there was a significant enrollment of students initially in 1996, the
pass rate was relatively low. The program took more time to complete due to
financial challenges. As a result, it prolonged for a duration of 8-9 years for
delivery instead of3 years. The narration reveals the course organizers' and
participants' tiring efforts throughout the project. It is a unique historical case
for an international library and information science capacity-building
initiative.
