International Talk with UiTM: Building Collaboration, Shaping the Future of LIS

Yogyakarta, 1 August 2025 – Under the theme “Empowering Global Academic Collaboration to Strengthen Academic Research Networks Across Universities”, the Library Science Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta organized an International Talk held in the Teatrikal Room of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences. The event brought together lecturers and students from various study programs within the faculty, creating an inclusive academic forum to discuss the future of Library and Information Science (LIS) in a global context.

The program opened with the singing of the national anthem Indonesia Raya and the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Hymn, reinforcing a sense of national pride and institutional identity. Dean of the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, Prof. Dr. Nurdin, S.Ag., S.S., M.A., in his remarks, emphasized that this event was a timely momentum for the academic community to enrich their knowledge and broaden their horizons.

Internationalization as cooperation, not just English

In his address, Head of the Library Science Study Program, M. Ainul Yaqin, S.Pd., M.Ed., underlined that the essence of “international” in this International Talk did not merely lie in the use of English. “The main goal of the international is the cooperation with other countries and international universities,” he stated, stressing that internationalization is fundamentally about building sustainable partnerships rather than simply adopting a foreign language.

The main session of the event was moderated by Marwiyah, M.LIS., a lecturer at UIN Sunan Kalijaga. She guided the discussion and presentations that explored collaborative opportunities in the field of Library and Information Science.

Collaborative resource sharing in LIS

The discussion session began with a presentation by M. Solihin Arianto, S.Ag., S.S., M.LIS., a lecturer at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, who delivered an introductory paper titled “Developing Collaborative Resource Sharing in Library and Information Science Perspective”. In his talk, he highlighted the importance of collaboration among libraries as a strategic response to limited resources.

One of the emerging trends he discussed was consortial borrowing—inter-library lending within a consortium—which enables faster and more efficient access to information. This model, he explained, allows libraries to complement one another’s collections and services, thereby expanding users’ access beyond the physical boundaries of a single institution.

His presentation formed a relevant bridge to the main session delivered by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Roziya binti Abu, Deputy Dean of Research & Industrial Networks at UiTM Malaysia.

“Collaboration is the new competition”

In her presentation titled “Empowering Global Collaborations: Building Sustainable Academic Research Networks”, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Roziya emphasized the importance of cross-border academic collaboration as a response to post-pandemic dynamics in the global research ecosystem. “Collaboration is the new competition. Learn positive things from your competitor, don’t kill them, be friends instead,” she remarked, underscoring that collaboration is not merely about sharing outcomes, but about creating space for mutual growth.

She outlined several models of international collaboration that universities can develop, including joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and the establishment of digital research networks. To ensure that such collaborations remain sustainable, she stressed the need for clear strategies, open communication, shared vision, and strong institutional support.

Future careers in LIS in the digital era

In the next segment, Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Roziya presented a second topic, “Diverse Career Landscape in LIS”, which explored the evolving world of work for Library and Information Science graduates. She explained that the digital era has brought significant shifts in the roles of librarians, moving them beyond traditional collection management.

According to her, librarians today can pursue careers as data analysts, data librarians, information architects, and digital curators. These roles require not only library skills but also competencies in data management, digital technology, and information ethics. She closed her presentation by encouraging participants to continuously develop themselves through lifelong learning so that they can adapt to an increasingly dynamic and global job market.

Concluding with a formal cooperation agreement

After the presentations, the event continued with an interactive question-and-answer session between the speakers and participants. The discussion covered various aspects of international collaboration, career development, and the future direction of the LIS profession.

The International Talk concluded with the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences (FADIB) of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Malaysia. This agreement stands as a concrete manifestation of efforts to strengthen international research collaboration and to build sustainable academic partnerships in the field of Library and Information Science.

Writer:

Shafina Choirunnisa (ssa)