Local Knowledge Initiative

Goals

(1) To build capacity in Asian higher education institutions for collecting, preserving and sharing
indigenous knowledge in the arts, humanities, and social sciences;
(2) Via in-person and online training and communication, provide approaches to and instruction in the
use of digital tools in research, library repositories, service, and teaching;
(3) Build a sustainable network around the collection and uses of digitized local knowledge with a
membership representing at least 50 higher education institutions from at least eight countries and
regions of Asia.

The “Local Knowledge Initiative” refers to promoting new ways that local knowledge can be collected,
preserved, and shared by university faculty, library staff, and students, using inexpensive digital tools
and media, in teaching and learning, research, and expanding library collections. Digital technology is
an efficient and effective way to document and preserve disappearing cultural assets. Information in
digital form, unlike printed text, photographs, or analog sound and video, can be shared quickly and
effectively within a classroom, or widely beyond the local area, or within a small circle of specialists.
The rapid pace of globalization has made the preservation of indigenous knowledge—everything from
local dialects and music to knowledge of medicinal plants—all the more urgent and all the more
possible.

Many similar consortia of universities have been formed among universities of Europe, North America,
and Australia and provide a vital network of support for faculty, library and IT staff. No such
international network or consortium exists in Asia. Given the challenge of keeping up with the constant
development of new digital tools, such consortia provide an information exchange for faculty and staff
to assess new and cost-effective tools and their applications in higher education, and also provide
opportunities for faculty and staff development. Our Local Knowledge Initiative and Asian University
Digital Resource Network aim to provide a similarly robust structure for universities in Asia.

Development of Local Knowledge Initiative

Research and networking: United Board staff have incorporated interviews with faculty, library and
IT staff into their regular campus visits, directly gathering information and assessing interest, capacity
and needs at over thirty universities in ten countries. A web-based survey also gathered a set of data
about institutional contexts and needs. United Board staff have attended conference on digital
humanities and education and technology in North America to gain information on current models of
cooperation and the potential and challenges of such networks.

Pilot projects in local knowledge preservation: United Board has funded four pilot projects in
China, India, Indonesia, and Thailand to gather information about project implementation and to
examine replicable models of training, data collection and online publication. Each project focused on
the use of digital tools to collect, preserve and share local resources that are currently not available on
the Internet.

International workshop: In May 2009, the United Board and City University of Hong Kong co-
hosted a workshop: Digital Humanities in Asia: Global Technologies and Local Knowledge. 50
participants from Australia, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, South Korea,
Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the U.S. gathered for presentations by participants on projects
involving local knowledge and digital technologies. The workshop included discussion of the common
needs and interests that a network can address, and formally launched the Asian University Digital
Resources Network (AUDRN). The workshop confirmed the high level of interest among university
faculty and library staff for continuing opportunities for training and networking.

Identification of lead institution for AUDRN activities

Miriam College, Manila, will serve as the lead institution for the Local Knowledge Initiative and
building the AUDRN. With close consultation with United Board staff, Miriam faculty and staff will
plan and organize in-person and online training and networking events, beginning with workshops in
Yogyakarta, Indonesia and Manila, Philippines in March and June 2010. Miriam will also develop
AUDRN’s online presence. Planning of activities is handled jointly by United Board and Miriam
staff.

Planned Local Knowledge Initiative activities:

Network Formation:
• Identification of network membership;
• Assessment of needs and capabilities to further define the network’s potential, including
planning for transition to self-sustaining network

Capacity-building Activities:
• Online interest groups will be organized around specific academic or technical areas;
• Workshops in particular countries or regions will allow library staff and faculty to gather
for intensive training and for networking;
• Funding of a small number of local knowledge projects to serve as models;
• Specialists will develop a website portal that features tools, case studies, discussions, and
information about the network and its activities;
• Travel grants will allow faculty to spend time as digital humanists-in-residence at
universities in Asia, Australia or North America and to network with digital-educational
consortia in other regions;
• Overall project assessment, an evaluative conference and publication of findings.

Role of the United Board

The United Board’s role is to assist in the formation of the network and to work with member
institutions to plan for the network’s sustainability through investments of funding and staff. Staff will
work with the lead institution and with network member universities to develop the network’s mission
and business model, seek sources of funding, work with network leadership to plan in-person and
online activities and resources, and network with other international higher education digital
networks. United Board staff will also oversee program evaluation.

The United Board Network

The United Board has proven strengths in building academic networks in Asia. The United Board’s
extensive ties with over 70 universities in Asia and extensive knowledge of country and individual
institutional contexts, strengths, and needs allow the United Board to meet the needs of universities of
varying levels of development. All United Board programs, in addition to their specific aims, produce
faculty, staff, and leaders who have international perspectives and networks.
The United Board is well-positioned to bring together institutions from across Asia and to leverage the
strengths of our partner institutions in more developed areas. We will work with our university partners
in Asia to develop a sustainable, collaborative, and cost-efficient approach to the collection,
preservation and sharing of local knowledge and digital tools across the region.