INSIGHT As an Australian currently living in , I’m evidence of CILIP’s ‘‘ growing international reach.

K&IM Matters Educating knowledge managers

’M very pleased to join the educational resources (OERs) alongside new committee for the the RealKM Open KM Syllabus. Knowledge & Information I’ve also received approval from Management (K&IM) Special in regard to my IInterest Group (SIG), having been proposal for a further subject for the introduced to CILIP last year by coming second semester, addressing Luke Stevens-Burt, Assistant knowledge management and Director, Member Services. As innovation. The role of knowledge in an Australian currently living in innovation, particularly in regard to China, I’m evidence of CILIP’s the new open innovation paradigm, Bruce Boyes (@BruceBoyes bruce growing international reach. is emerging as an area of key focus @bruceboyes.info) is Editor and Lead Writer CILIP has very quickly impressed for business, so is an area of growing of RealKM Magazine (www.realkm.com) and a teacher at Shanxi University in northern me as an organisation because of its importance for KM. China. www.bruceboyes.info. professionalism, membership strength, I’m also now looking at how I can continuing professional development facilitate the trialling of a full KM (CPD) activities, and effective advocacy. undergraduate or postgraduate course using the RealKM Open KM Syllabus. Accredited KM courses We hope that with further research I have a special interest in an and development, the RealKM Open Evidence-based KM aspect of CILIP’s CPD work – the KM Syllabus can form the basis of Another of my special KM interests potential accreditation of knowledge accredited KM courses. is evidence-based knowledge management (KM) courses. This management. Unfortunately some interest comes from being both the KM undergraduate courses of the decision-making in the Editor and Lead Writer of RealKM KM has so far been primarily KM discipline is opinion-based Magazine which recently launched delivered through postgraduate rather than evidence based, and the RealKM Open KM Syllabus, and courses, and I expect that there would there’s also a tendency for people a teacher at Shanxi University in be a continued emphasis on studies at working in KM to rely heavily on northern China, where I’ve developed this level. But I would also like to see their professional expertise to and taught an introductory KM subject the establishment of full KM major the exclusion of other sources of as part of the undergraduate library courses at undergraduate level. My evidence, in particular research and information courses. concern is that unless KM education findings (see bit.ly/2BH65M8). The RealKM Open KM Syllabus (bit. is established at undergraduate level, With this in mind, RealKM ly/2CbQvJI) is a new initiative which then KM studies will only ever be seen Magazine (www.realkm.com) was attempts to systematically describe as a later career or supplementary established in 2015 to provide ­up-to- the themes and topics required for a education option. date research-based information fully-rounded education in knowledge So far, Shanxi University has provided to assist knowledge managers with management (KM) theory and practice. great support for my KM education their work. Since then, RealKM I developed the Shanxi University initiatives. However, KM is relatively Magazine has cemented a vital introductory KM subject using basic new in China, and Shanxi Province is role in the international KM elements of the RealKM Open KM one of the least developed and most landscape, becoming a key go-to Syllabus, and taught it in the past conservative areas of China. Because resource for KM practitioners semester (the first semester of the of this, it might be too soon for a full and the managers and leaders 2017-18 academic year). The subject KM course here, so I’m keen to explore of organisations. I invite you to was effective and well received. From the possibilities in other subscribe to the RealKM Magazine feedback and my own reflections, I’m throughout the world. If you’re working Weekly Wrap e-newsletter (it’s going to make some tweaks to the in or are aware of a university that free, as is access to our articles), or subject resources I developed and might be interested, please feel free to to follow our article posts on social then make them available as open contact me. media. IP

20 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL March 2018