Media Releases
iSchool Institute launched at U of T’s Faculty of Information
April 28, 2010
TORONTO, ON — Digital information, the Internet, and information technology have radically altered the way we create, use, and communicate information. These changes have impacted every aspect of our society.
The University of Toronto’s Faculty of Information, a leader in research and education in information, is pleased to announce the launch of the iSchool Institute. This initiative will enable us to engage with a wider community of professionals and the broader public outside of academia.
“We launched this new Institute to offer information professionals and the public opportunities to expand their knowledge, enhance their employment prospects, and learn to adapt to the ever-changing information field,” Professor Seamus Ross, Dean of the Faculty of Information. “Through our courses and lectures, citizens can develop the skills necessary to handle and use information to their advantage at home and in the workplace.”
The Institute will build on the decade of success that the Professional Learning Centre has had at the iSchool, providing continuing education for information professionals. The Institute will also add more workshops aimed at senior managers, entrepreneurs and other leaders in the community who are in a position to influence excellence in information work.
The Institute will reach out to the public at large by offering a new monthly guest lecture series featuring members of the faculty and distinguished practitioners in the information profession from around the world, with a mandate to bring their insights to the community at no charge.
The inaugural lecture, “Organized Chaos: Social Networks and Enterprise Change,” will be held on April 28, and feature open information sharing expert, Euan Semple, who spent more than 20 years at the British Broadcasting Corporation. Mr. Semple is responsible for the introduction and growth of the BBC’s internal use of social media and Web 2.0 tools to great effect in managing a worldwide team of reporters and production resources.
Current Director of the Institute, Bruce Stewart, will be chairing the advisory board, replacing former Chair, Rebecca Jones. In addition, the board welcomes a number of new members, including Dr. Ken Haycock (professor and director of the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University), Steven Forth (CEO of Leverage Point Innovations Inc.), Christine Castle (consultant to museums and recent adjunct member of the Faculty), Janet de Guzman (OpenText) and Deirdre Grimes (Ontario Legislative Assembly).
Under Mr. Stewart’s leadership, the iSchool Institute will build continuing education courses for various information-related roles. “Our course offerings will continue to expand, reflecting the growth of the information disciplines. We are planning to move beyond offerings at the University of Toronto’s St. George St. Campus and in Ottawa to other cities, and to other parts of the Greater Toronto Area. We are also already enjoying a good reception to custom offerings taught on site, and for other forms of consulting using the expertise here at Canada’s only iSchool.”
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For more information, please contact:
Kathleen O’Brien
Faculty of Information Studies
Communications and Development Officer
416–978-7184
kathleen.obrien@utoronto.ca