Millennial Students and Information Literacy: Educating for Employability

  • Rich M
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Abstract

This paper draws on recent research within a British business school into the information skills associated with students of the 'millennial generation', or 'generation Y', that is, born from 1983 onwards. The underlying research draws on their experience of using information sources when they embark on studies in higher education, the evolution of their information literacy skills while they are at university, and their receptiveness to learning new approaches. A widespread criticism of students of this generation is that, while they are very familiar with simple navigation of the Internet with the aid of search engines, they lack the skills necessary to seek out information in more depth. Within universities, one response to this is to offer training in specialised databases available through university libraries, and this can offer a valuable introduction to academic research. Another important skill that students can acquire is to evaluate how authoritative information sources are, and this has become a particularly pertinent issue with the increase in the volume of information over the Internet. These professional information management skills are important in the workplace as well as for students, and one incentive for business and management students to develop these skills is the prospect that an employer will pay them to find out more about a subject than can be determined from a quick enquiry using Google. But the competences demanded by employers are not necessarily well aligned with those covered in business and management degree courses, and a challenge for universities now is to equip students with skills that employers want. This paper draws a connection between the changing information literacy skills associated with the millennial generation, and the challenge created by this generation's expectations and experiences as they enter employment, Given the centrality of employability in much contemporary policy affecting higher education, it discusses what moves universities should take to develop the necessary skills.

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Rich, M. (2009). Millennial Students and Information Literacy: Educating for Employability. 8th European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, 285-290 ST-Millennial Students and Information. Retrieved from <Go to ISI>://000280756900034

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