Call for Abstract Submissions to the International Conference on Knowledge architecting for the National Memory: Libraries at the front

21st-23rd October, 2009
Protea Hotel, 4 Elgon Terrace, Kololo, Kampala – Uganda.

Last date for submission of Abstracts: 14th August 2009
Notification on Acceptance of Abstracts: 28th August 2009
Last Date for Submission of Full Texts and All Illustration: 11th September 2009
Language: English
Abstract Submission: Prof. Ikoja-Odongo JR conference@isfea.net
Mr. Kiwala Yusuf ykiwala@fema.mak.ac.ug

Objective: The Conference is the first of its kind, with the main objective of providing an International forum for presentation and discussion of research on knowledge and know-how management, as well as recent advances on data and knowledge bases.
The purpose of the conference is to identify challenging problems facing the development of future knowledge and information systems in the African context, and to shape future directions of research by soliciting and reviewing high quality, applied and theoretical research findings.

Why the theme:
Knowledge Management is by far identified as the hottest topic in virtually all aspects of human activity. The influence of knowledge management is felt in all sectors, including agriculture, medicine, education, politics, science, to mention a few. It has inevitably been realized that knowledge powers human action and directs all interventions. It is therefore apparent that without knowledge, action is futile.
On the basis of the above background, the above theme proves timely in the African context. Whereas knowledge management and all associated best practices have been well received and embraced by the western world, Africa still seems to have a long way to go. It is therefore found appropriate enough to set off, with first things first. The conference will seek to explore all facets of knowledge architecting in the African context, with a substantial feel that at the dawn of it all, participants will have come up with a common understanding on the direction that Africa must take to cope with the rest of the world. Consequent conferences will thenceforth seek to consider other key aspects, after laying this foundation. This hence justifies the choice of exploring the numerous knowledge architecting models as the most appropriate for the conference.

Who should attend: Knowledge generators, researchers, scientists, academicians, knowledge managers, Library and Information Science professionals, IT and ICT professionals, Projects administrators, Policy makers in the fields of knowledge and information practices to exchange the latest thinking and new paradigms in best practices of knowledge management in the Sub-Saharan Region. The conference premise is that we are united by a common objective: to build National Memories to support Development in Africa.

Organizer: Information Science Foundation for Eastern Africa (ISFEA)
ISFEA is a Regional association for the Library and Information Science (LIS) community founded in 2005 to combine expertise from across the region’s information community, to link national communities more effectively and to encourage new partnerships to develop between the many different areas and organisations that they represent. In doing so, it aims to build wider awareness of the information profession’s valuable contributions to regional and national development, and to encourage others to make greater use of this expertise. It was established in response to the challenges of perception of the Information Science fields that result from limited awareness of the human resource skills possessed by Information Science professionals. It brings together a number of highly qualified and experienced Information Science professionals including Library Science; Knowledge Management, Records, Archive and Documentation management; Information Management, Data management; Information, Communication and Technology management; Book trade and Industry ready to handle all kinds of Information work in diversified fields in the region. ISFEA derives its mandate from the need to establish the Information Science identity within the African context so that it is perceived as the cornerstone for Democracy, Education and Regional Development. More information about the Information Science Foundation for Eastern Africa can be obtained from www.acu.ac.uk/libraries/link-issue-3.pdf and http://www.isfea.net/

Themes for Abstracts: Listed by Commissions below.
Papers may be from a country-specific, regional, or global perspective. Submissions from international collaborations are encouraged.

Commission 1: Knowledge Generation and Usage through Research for Development

- Research as a curricular element: best practices and experiences in Knowledge Generation.
- The Knowledge Generation Life Cycle
- Knowledge Innovation/Discovery Case Studies
- Observatory projects: impact of Knowledge Generation in social development outcomes
- Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Studies in health sciences
- Applying modern Scientific Approaches to Indigenous Knowledge Research
- Knowledge generation and usage in traditional medicine: case studies from communities of practice
- Knowledge Generation Practices in Africa – A Focus on Sub Saharan Africa

Commission 2: Library Science and Knowledge Management

- Libraries’ Role in Knowledge Management
- Efforts towards adopting the concept of Knowledge Bank, a one stop centre for Innovations and Research References
- Digital Libraries as Propellers of New Knowledge Discovery
- Role of Library and Information Science bodies in adopting Knowledge Management to build National Memories.

Commission 3: IT Paradigms and Tendencies in Knowledge Management

- Integration of ICT in Knowledge Discovery
- Information Storage and Retrieval and Interface Technology
- Application of knowledge generation techniques to semantic modeling
- Object-Oriented Database Management Systems (OODBMS) in knowledge architecting
- Automated acquisition of data and knowledge bases
- Development and management of heterogeneous knowledge bases

Commission 4: Legal Aspect and Policies in Knowledge Generation

- Quality Assurance (QA) Imperatives in Knowledge Generation
- Intellectual Property Rights Considerations in Knowledge Generation
- Education curriculum and accreditations in Knowledge Management

Registration: To register for the conference and submit abstracts: Online registration will be available soon. One can access the pdf version of the registration form; Click here  Conference Registration form  Below is information about registration fees. Please look out for Registration fee Payment Modalities on the Conference registration form above.

Sponsors: The Conference is likely to be attended by Over 200 LIS and ICT professionals and stakeholders. This is an ideal platform for organizations and companies that want to establish or strengthen their connections with a global business especially in Africa in Information service and products. Organizers will be glad to work with sponsors to customize their sponsorship package to include high visibility aspects. Click here: Conference Sponsorship Package. 

Conference Organising Committee:

Committee Chairman :
Mr. Christopher Ssebandeke, csebandeke@yahoo.com
Content Managers
Prof. Ikoja-Odongo J.R,  ikoja@easlis.mak.ac.ug
Mr. Yusuf Kiwala , ykiwala@fema.mak.ac.ug  
Fund Coordinators:                          
Mr. Robert Ntalaka, ntalaka.robert@isfea.net
Mrs. Allen Ssonko Ssuuna , allensn@hotmail.com
Registration and Public Relations:  
Ms. Harriet Apio                      apiohar@yahoo.com
Volunteer Coordinators:   
Mr. Luyimbazi Godfrey            gluyimbazi@yahoo.co.uk 
Mr. Kasusse Michael               lkasusse@mulib.mak.ac.ug