Can Infopreneurship be an Employment Option for Library and Information Science Students?

Abstract

The study aimed to determine if infopreneurship can be an employment option for Library and Information Science (LIS) students and graduates in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Specifically, it investigated LIS graduates involved in infopreneurship, the requisite competencies, areas of infopreneurship, and challenges. Guiding the research was the interpretive paradigm. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study used the case-study design. Data were collected through triangulation of interviews, content analysis and observations. Non-probability sampling methods were used, i.e., purposive sampling and snowball sampling. A total number of 60 infopreneurs from KZN were interviewed. The results of the study revealed that infopreneurship is practised in South Africa, though a minimal number of graduates from LIS practise it. Furthermore, infopreneurship is constantly developing, as are the infopreneurship activities that infopreneurs can perform. Notwithstanding its challenges, the majority of the infopreneurs identified have been practising it for over five years. These results suggest that infopreneurship can be an option for employment for LIS students and graduates. Ultimately, there is a need for a curriculum review and development to best prepare students to be infopreneurs. Furthermore, there is a need to include infopreneurship policies for the fight against unemployment among graduates.