CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

1.0 Introduction

This chapter presents background information on the need assessment for integration of
infopreneurship course into BLIS programmer a case study at Dar es Salaam university
(UDSM).The chapter includes the following components. Background to study, statement of the
research problem, research objective, research questions, significance of the study and
limitations of the study delamination of the study and definition of key terms.

1.1 Background of the study

Information entrepreneurship, which is defined as the providing of information for a fee, is now
a dynamic part of the library and information world.it can take two forms. The first is dependent
information entrepreneurship, otherwise known as information brokering or information
consulting. The second is information entrepreneurship or establishment of fee based information
services within an established library.

Infopreneurship course advanced worldwide especially in America, Asia, China and Africa in
Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. Working abroad can be challenge for any librarian and
students interested in maintaining profession development, technological skill, contacts and
networks. For librarians who are working abroad, that is expatriate librarians .it may be said that
it is a unique opportunity to work in library located in a foreign country. There is a great deal of
learning that occurs when one works abroad acquiring new language skills and interacting in
multicultural landscape can be viewed as either obstacles or opportunities for career growth.
(Raymond, 2015) These have allowed librarians to stay connected with their peers from across
the world as well as to learning new skills. A self-crafted professional development program was
necessary for many purposes to learn new skill and to stay abreast of new technologies and
trends in academic librarianship. (Murray, 2014) designing this professional development
program was doing something more than just for a job. It was a commitment to self-investment

Harold F Weitzen registered a trade mark for infopreneur indicating its first use in commerce
was as of January 31, 1984. Before the birth of the internet in the beginning of 1990,
infopreneurship despite its name was not used as such back in those days .it was practice by
individuals who used different type of mediums to carry the information they package into
products, such as printed reports and they was delivered by traditional mail. People are
connected to internet and making searches all the time and everywhere, with their mobile devices
and as natural results of that increase the web traffic very much. Everything together makes that
today it is very difficult to make your own voice heard in the loud noise on internet. So no matter
what your target audiences shall find your infopreneurship.

In Africa universities course in infoprenureship course contributed to bridging the gaps between
the so called the gap between the security of full time employments and the imagined insecurity
of an own information business act present the rand Africans university in South Africa offers.
Infopreneurship course to information sciences and computer science students. (Adeline).
Nigeria was applying theoretical approach to development and implementation of an
entrepreneurship course in BLIS program. According to (Anyanwu,2013) we are living in
complex and hybrid information environment that is highly competitive and as such the students
of library and information science ought to be fully equipped with the entrepreneurial skill that
will empower them to reposition themselves in the society where unemployment is almost if not
becoming a norm. Library information science education in Nigeria today cannot be relevant
with effective preparation and technology in their professional practices (Edegbo, 2011).

It observe that the introduction of entrepreneurship course in Nigerian Universities following a

presidential directive in 2004 was a commendable step even as facilities for skill acquisition are
generally lacking in most institutions.( Anene and Imam,2011)

In developing country like Tanzania many students may have acquire a lifelong special
knowledge, or even in possession of expertise anywhere to start and run a inforpreneurship is
very in expensive. That makes it possible for anyone on this planet with a computer and internet
connection, setting up a small web business by publishing valuable, unique and relevant
information that can satisfy the growing demand for information online to your chosen targeted
marketing.

Recently in Tanzania context, this course not yet advanced compared to other areas in the
Word .Most of the academic institution offer LIS program they not put seriousness on integrating
information entrepreneurship course into their curriculum. Farther more, graduates they are not
full competent on securing job for them and interacted on innovating new opportunity concern to
information career. This trend bring a gap to most of graduate who believe only on employed in
library, most of youth who graduate as Librarian decide to cut across on other duties due to
scarcity of job opportunity in Tanzanian context. There is need to most University think more on
the benefit, objectives and role of information Entrepreneurship course to the society and
community among Tanzania context. We need establish this course in LIS program to ensure the
following entrepreneurship education will provide library and information science graduate the
additional skills that will empower them to transform their ideas into visible business, Library
and information science graduate needs to be reposioned through entrepreneurship education for
them to succeed Apply entrepreneurial knowledge in identifying business opportunities useful
for their self-employment after completion of their studies, Formulate funding proposal so as to
secure funds for their individual projects or the organization they work with and Design and
manage an entrepreneurial venture or small business for generating income for their livelihood

1.2 Statement of the problem

Information entrepreneurship course in universities especial in Dar es Salaam University the

purpose of that course students acquire necessary knowledge and skills required for organizing
and carrying out entrepreneurial activities. To develop the ability of analyzing and understanding
business situations in which infopreneurs act and to master the knowledge necessary to plan
infopreneurship activities. The objective of course is father on, that the students develop the
ability of various aspects of pattern of entrepreneurship development and, finally to contribute to
their infopreneurial and managerial potentials Also information entrepreneurship course which
started to be taught in university in some Africa countries such as in Kenya, South Africa and
Nigeria so as to reduce unemployment problem among their graduates. Unemployment is a big
problem in Tanzania particularly to graduates in library programs due to absence of information
entrepreneurship course which could have enabled them to employ themselves once they miss
formal employment in public and private organization.

However due to having inforpreneurship course in BLIS program many students in universities
who are takes BLIS program who are not employed continue to increase in labor market, lacks of
the entrepreneurship skill to them and sometimes in particular universities also they have no
infrastructures such as enough Lectures for teaching that course. Also students they have
negative attitudes about infoprenuership course.in those consequences graduates they fail to be
emproyed themselves and innovation of something new in information