On 28 April 2025, IFLA Division C hosted a webinar on the above topic. The webinar was very well attended, with exciting Q&A and discussion following presentations by each speaker.

Featured in the webinar was two keynote speakers:

  1. Dr Peter Hobbins, Head of Knowledge at the Australian National Maritime Museum
  2. Jaime McCowan, CEO of CAVAL Ltd, Australia

Following the keynotes, five students from across the globe presented their papers in the student panel session. This includes:

  1. Naaz Huq from the University of Lucknow, who presented “The role of internship experience in transforming library theory into practice: A first-hand experience of well mentored intern”. Mentored by Assoc Prof Anjali Gulati, Naaz is is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science (M.Lib.I.Sc.) at the University of Lucknow. As a dedicated student, Naaz has gained practical experience through an internship at the Giri Institute of Development Studies (GIDS). This experience focused on key areas such as classification and cataloging, barcoding, digitization, shifting and shelving, library management systems (Libsys), book acquisition and financial records management, and maintaining accessibility and organization. Naaz is passionate about enhancing library services and improving user experience through technological innovations.
  2. Brian Paulo Gozon Tuminting from Bulacan State University, the Philippines, who presented “Gaining industry insights through internship”. Brian is a dedicated Library and Information Science student passionate about expanding his knowledge and professional experience. Having completed an internship at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, College of Engineering Library, and currently interning at the University of the East – Department of Libraries, he continues to gain valuable industry insights. His experiences have shaped his career aspirations, driving him to refine his skills and explore future opportunities in the field.
  3. Monika Kilic from the University of Toronto, Canada, who presented “Navigating your path to employment: Leveraging graduate placements, internships, and skills development for career success”. Monika is a Master of Information Candidate at the University of Toronto, in the Library and Information Sciences concentration. She received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Waterloo and currently works as a Metadata Production & Electronic Access Specialist at Scholars Portal. Prior to obtaining full time employment, she held student positions at Scholars Portal and in the Metadata Services department at UofT. She is currently completing a practicum with the Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries working on a data project for their shared print program. She is interested in AI applications for metadata workflows, cataloguing, and open-source tools.
  4. Jeiah Recto from the University of Southeastern Philippines, who presented “Tugkaran sa dakbayan: The grassroots approach to LIS services through community outreach and extension program”. Mentored by Annacel B Delima, Jeiah is an undergraduate Library and Information Science student from the University of Southeastern Philippines – Obrero Campus. Jeiah is a fourth-year BLIS student with five months’ worth of internship experience. She has worked with diverse groups not limited to: differently-abled children, victims of child abuse, children in conflict with the law, and indigenous peoples – especially from far-flung areas. She held leadership roles in the university as the Organizational President (A.Y. 2022-2023) within the BLIS program, and a Congress Representative (A.Y. 2023-2024) in the House of Representatives. Outside of academics, Jeiah volunteers for a sociopolitical organization focused on empowering Filipino youth. She is passionate about sociopolitical commentary; and she enjoys music, films, and reading whenever time allows.
  5. Dipti Mahabal from Charles Sturt University, Australia, who presented “Workplace learning: Your best opportunity!”. Dipti recently completed her Master of Information Studies (Librarianship) at CSU. She has been working at Brisbane City Council Libraries as a Library Assistant since 2017. She holds multidisciplinary degrees, namely Bachelor of Commerce, Master in Personnel Management, and Diploma of Library, Information and Cultural Studies. Her achievements include, amongst others, being nominated for a number of professional and educational awards. She is passionate about information literacy, research, metadata, and digital curation. She was a member speaker of the CRIG Seminar 2024 panel, conducted by CAVAL on ‘Information Literacy is Turning 50: Inclusion in Information Literacy’.