A sequential explanatory methodology for the study of young people’s career information literacy and career information behaviours

Young people’s career success is predicated on the extent to which they can apply career information to their career decision-making and career development learning processes. Taking heed of the critical importance of career information in career decision-making, the focus of the doctoral work presented in this poster is the identification of means of enhancing young people’s career information literacy competencies. To this end, a mixed methods, sequential explanatory research design is employed in the research. The programme of research consists of two phases: a quantitative phase and a qualitative phase. In the quantitative phase, knowledge of the everyday career information behaviours of Scottish adolescents will be generated. In the qualitative phase, the career information literacy practices and current levels of career agency of young people will be explored. Once obtained, research findings can inform the development of career information literacy support mechanisms

Capturing career information use in everyday life: introducing the CIEL conceptual framework

Everyday career information use is not fully addressed by extant theories, models and frameworks. In this paper, a conceptual framework of career information behaviour and career information literacy in everyday life is presented. Over the course of 2021, a literature review of everyday life career information use was completed. As part of this review, a search for boundary objects was performed, and thematically similar conceptual contributions were mapped. An analysis of the integral components of ten theories, models and frameworks relating to information behaviour, information literacy, information practice and career development was performed with a view towards the development of a conceptual framework.Results. A conceptual framework consisting of two key components – topography and way of life – was devised following analysis. The framework provides insight into the means by which individuals experience career information in everyday life, and the means by which they navigate career information environments. The conceptual framework presented in this paper is applicable to the development of novel career information literacy theories, models or frameworks, or the modification of extant conceptualisations.Peer Reviewe

Mobile apps for bus users in Edinburgh

Edinburgh and its surrounding area are well served by an efficient bus network. The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) have worked with the locally owned bus company (Lothian Buses) and a system supplier (INEO Systrans) to deliver real-time information to meet passengers’ needs, initially through bus-stop displays and then a website. This case study described how it was later extended to smartphone users through a cooperative and flexible approach with two individuals who had developed Apps for iPhone and Android phones

Customer journey mapping

Public services need to adapt to the needs of their customers, the citizens. Often new e-services are technology-initiated, but Smart Cities start with the user. This document places the customer journey mapping (CJM) process in the context of customer insight and business process improvement and provides practical guidelines on how to make the most of CJM

Customer journey mapping

Public services need to adapt to the needs of their customers, the citizens. Often new e-services are technology-initiated, but Smart Cities start with the user. This document places the customer journey mapping (CJM) process in the context of customer insight and business process improvement and provides practical guidelines on how to make the most of CJM

The Perceptions of Postgraduate International Students of Examinations

The increasing internationalisation of higher education means that many students in the UK are not native English speakers, possibly putting them at a disadvantage in an examination environment. However, exams continue to be used even though although they are often deprecated as an assessment instrument in postgraduate courses. This article explores the implications from these observations for module leaders and for higher education institutions. Three themes emerge: the impact of internationalisation, the use of exams at postgraduate level and the language and cultural issues faced by international students. A review of university policy and quality documents revealed a general commitment to internationalisation but some gaps in policy support, for students with English as a second or foreign language. A survey of students in two computing programmes evaluated these themes. The results did not show up any major issues, though there were a number of suggestions to improve the exam process to address feelings of bias to UK or native-English-speaking students. The research therefore established that the university’s internationalisation and diversity strategy is broadly reflected in students’ experiences, with the possible exception of students who were recruited with insufficient English to be able to engage successfully with the material. The contrast in responses when analysed by home country or English proficiency suggest that Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) practice in this context should be clear whether and when language or culture are the main barrier to students. Pragmatic recommendations are made for improvement in examination practice, and to assessment processes generally in this context. Areas for further work are identified

Your library: supporting mobile users in Edinburgh

The Library and Information Services department of the City of Edinburgh Council has been extending its service provision for citizens and engaging with the wider community. This case study shows how it has made innovative use of services and applications (Apps) for mobile devices. It makes it clear that support for mobile devices is best seen in the context of a wide-ranging social media and digital communication strategy. This case study covers the relationship with the digital communications service providers and the suppliers of the library management suite. It also considers other content and services available to mobile devices including as eBooks and audio content

Evaluation of engagement with hyperlocal e-participation systems by citizens and representatives

This work is concerned with the information practices associated with hyperlocal representation. The findings derive from an evaluation of a portfolio of ten previously published papers covering the period 2010-2020.The main contributions are: (a) The development of the concept of hyperlocal representation as a domain with its own challenges; (b) The characterisation of hyperlocal representatives as stakeholders in the participation process; and (c) Expansion of the existence and nature of lurkers as passive participants in the participation process, and the responses seen in the information sharing practices of the hyperlocal representatives, including use of information sharing by proxy. These contributions are significant because they are the first to consider community councillors as information actors in their own right, and their response to lurking behaviours in their community. This is in contrast with previous research at this level of government, which has focussed on the activities of citizens, and local government administration staff. The portfolio demonstrates the application of frameworks derived from information science to the field of e-participation. It identifies the impact of the project- and information systems-based nature of much e-participation research, and proposes an information-centric perspective from information science to support a new analysis, through application of theoretical approaches derived from everyday life information practice, information literacy, activity systems and communities of learning. An additional contribution is the creation of a new model of the transition from lurking to participation based on social-cognitive theory. A further contribution of the thesis is to methodologies in information science, in particular through the design of questionnaires and supporting interviews as data collection instruments in this context. This thesis adds to understanding of information sharing in a quasi-work context where there are limited expectations of interaction. It could support future research into the information practice of representatives in (a) the choice of channels for communication with citizens, (b) the information communities involved in the representation role and (c) the impact of the policy cycle on information practices

Digital engagement workshop for community councils: Glasgow 2016 report.

Thisreport covers a workshop on digital engagement for Community Councils supported by the School of Computing's public engagement fund. It was heldin Glasgowon 22 March 2016. The workshop combined presentations by subjectexperts with attendee-led round-table discussions. Itwaswellreceived and felt by delegates to be of immediatebenefit. Thereis clear demand for follow-up events, potentially more focussed on training