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Media Release

January 31, 2006

A new era of information management

studying at UniSACollecting and managing information is increasingly vital in all areas of modern life – from small businesses and multinational organisations, to schools and universities, libraries and museums.

Among the plethora of professions that deal with information – record managers, archivists, librarians and information officers – the need for a new type of information manager has emerged.

In a world first, the University of South Australia, State Records SA (a business unit of the Department for Administrative and Information Services), the State Library of South Australia and Fuji Xerox have established a Chair of Business Information Management to develop an innovative suite of university programs to educate and train new information professionals.

The Chair, to be launched today by the Minister for Administrative Services Michael Wright at the historic Mortlock wing of the State Library on North Terrace, will bring together a number of interrelated courses at UniSA.

“The aim is to produce a new breed of information management professionals capable of meeting the future challenges of this growing and increasingly important industry,” Minister Wright said.

“It is this type of innovative worker that can contribute to sustained economic and jobs growth in South Australia, and help build a foundation for future generations,” Minister Wright said.

Inside the State Library of South AustraliaUnder the Chair, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees will be offered, together with affiliated applied research, to educate technically skilled records managers, archivists, librarians, internet/intranet coordinators, information system designers and administrators, as well as knowledge and information officers.

The Chair’s programs will also include a focus on marketing, project management, customer service and leadership skills to develop professionals capable of meeting a growing and increasingly important information industry.

The inaugural chair, UniSA’s Professor Paula Swatman, says the world-first initiative will graduate highly skilled information managers and produce cutting-edge research.

“The input of all partners will deliver strong education and research in an area that needs more focused attention – and we intend to deliver,” Prof Swatman said.

“It’s a real honour to be made the Chair of Business Information Management, especially when there is such a strong collaboration with education, government and industry."

The initiative builds on existing relationships between three key South Australian institutions and industry. It aligns with the state’s plan to prosper through innovation, research and development in partnerships between government, industry and education.

Inside the Mortlock Chambers of the State Library of South AustraliaThe director of the State Library, Alan Smith, says the partnership is a leading example of a strong commitment to the future of the information industry.

”The State Library has a legal responsibility to ensure the community has adequate research and information services,” Smith said.

“This cannot be maintained without this radial new approach to information training. Our partnership in the establishment of the Chair is our commitment to invest in the future.”

And Managing Director of Fuji Xerox Australia, Phil Chambers, agrees.

“Fuji Xerox recognises the central role of the document in information management,” Chambers said.

“As we all deal with an ever-increasing flow of information, both in electronic and paper formats, we are proud to partner with UniSA and the SA government to launch the Chair of Business Information Management.

“These programs will ensure our information managers of the future are well equipped to deal with the challenges of the digital world.”

The Chair's program will be made available online for interstate and overseas students to participate in this ground-breaking initiative.

The Chair of Business Information Management website is now available for potential students and businesses to access and learn more about the program.

Chair of Business Information Management launch
When: 5.00 - 6.30pm, Tuesday January 31, 2006
Where: Mortlock Chamber, State Library of SA, North Terrace, Adelaide

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