UCL Qatar Library and Information Studies students go to India to get insights on Libraries and Librarianship in the Digital Era

4th March 2019 - Qatar

UCL Qatar students have participated in the Sixth International Conference of Asian Special Libraries in India on Libraries and Librarianship in Digital Plus Era, as part of the latest international study trip organised by the university. 

The conference, which took place at Ambedkar University Delhi, exposed students on UCL Qatar’s Library and Information Studies MA programme to the latest technologies and developments in Digital Libraries and Library Science. 

Students also witnessed the processes behind archiving historically significant records and materials during a visit to the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. 

The trip was led by Armin Straube, Teaching Fellow of the Library and Information Studies MA at UCL Qatar, who explained: “Through this visit, our students could observe how theory learned at UCL Qatar can be implemented on a larger scale. The libraries and museums in Qatar house valuable heritage material and study trips such as this help our students broaden their horizons.” 

The international visit programmes at UCL Qatar are a central part of the university’s commitment to use its international networks to develop Qatar’s future workforce. 

With the country quickly establishing itself as a regional leader in libraries and librarianship, study trips are designed to equip students with practical skills that can be applied in the workplace and provide them with opportunities to share knowledge with their peers around the world. 

Islam Elshahidi, a UCL Qatar Library and Information Studies MA Programme student, commented: “Thanks to UCL Qatar for giving us this opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of our programme and become more open to what the world has to offer.”

While in India, the students also had the chance to explore the country, visiting iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal and the India Gate of Delhi. 

UCL Qatar was set up in 2010 as a partnership between University College London, one of the top ten universities in the world, and Qatar Foundation. During this time, it has developed a leading international study trip programme to help students expand their practical experience and professional networks. Previous trips have included visits to Muscat, Istanbul and Berlin.