1. INTRODUCTION ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Records and archives management profession, like other information professions requires a complex theoretical and practical knowledge base to underpin its special expertise. Iwhiwhu, (2005), notes that Information and records management are the pillars of business activities. Therefore, with their absence, management is incapacitated in its decision making process. The lack of records impairs orderly methods of information communication and utilization in an organization or institution. Organizations today require highly qualified personnel to manage their records. Such personnel ought to have undergone thorough training. Therefore, institutions with the mandate to train records and archives professionals have to design curricular to train personnel who can excel in the market environment. Ocholla and Botha (2007) note that it is important that curricula ought to be aligned to keep track of the latest developments in the information world and keep their teaching market-related and relevant.
Besides that, Uganda is one of the countries in which Millennium Development Goals are set to be achieved. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of time-bound and quantified targets for reducing extreme poverty and extending universal rights by 2015. The MDGs provide the benchmarks for measuring progress and fundamentally reflect the shared aspirations of the various national governments in global human capacity development. This requires significant investment in education in an attempt to address important aspirations such as: improvement in standards of training, provision of specialized education and training programmes; enhancements of management and administration of education at national, district and institutional levels (Uganda, 1999: 90). Training in DRAM is one of the ways of bridging the gap.
2. RATIONALE FOR THE DRAM PROGRAMME
Information is a key resource for individual, organizational, national and international development. It must therefore be generated, processed, stored, and disseminated. However, because it is a non-dynamic resource, the above activities cannot happen by themselves. Therefore, there must exist a body of information professionals with extensive theory (knowledge) and training (competence and skills) in order to effectively manage this information.
3. PLANS (PATHWAYS)
An upward opening for certificate holders
A program to train paraprofessionals for entry into professional program.
Some of the courses offered in DRAM, DLIS will be offered in DIT e.g. Communication skills and Information Technology.
4. PROGRAMME GOAL, OBJECTIVES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
4.1 PROGRAMME GOAL
Developing human capacity to manage information for organizational, national and international development.
4.2 THE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
- Develop a human capacity at paraprofessional level to address needs and challenges in records and archives management
- Equip students with knowledge in records and archives management
- Equip students to practical training to enable them acquire competencies and skills required in Records and archives work
- Empower students to appreciate and apply ICT in the management of records and archives
- Empower students professional attitudes in records and archives work
4.3 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
The Diploma in Records and Archives Management prepares a student to be part of Records and information evolution.
The skills gained will make a student an information leader, supporting organization, access and management of information and its tools.
4.4 LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the prograrmme, graduates should be able to:
- Understand how, ideas, knowledge and information are generated, communicated and used by individuals and organizations
- Develop ability to generate, process, store and document information and records.
- Manage and use information effectively and describe and analyze information flows and processes within organizations
- Develop ability to apply technology in records and Information Management
- Develop ability to provide information support in light of the organization goals.