Assessing and Promoting Metadata Quality for Electronic Theses and Dissertations in Institutional Repositories Using a Policy-Driven Approach
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Date
2023-11-17
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INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar
Abstract
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) have become integral to higher education
institutions' (HEIs) repositories, facilitating accessibility, sharing, and preservation of
research. High-quality metadata is crucial for effective ETD discovery, retrieval, and
preservation. The Zambia National ETD portal project seeks to aggregate metadata from
HEIs for a nationwide portal. This study examines ETD metadata quality and ingestion
processes in HEI repositories, focusing on institutional repository policies. Using mixed
methods, the research assesses ETD metadata in Zambian HEIs with functional repositories.
Quantitative analysis rates metadata completeness using the ETD-MS standard. Interviews
with 16 stakeholders from 8 HEIs identify policy-related influences on metadata quality.
Result shows low ETD metadata completeness, averaging 6.43 out of 10. Institutions often
diverge from standards like ETD-MS, creating their own or adapting existing ones. Compliance
with NDLTD's 14 metadata elements is poor, with optional elements like contributors and
coverage often missing. The study highlights metadata's importance, particularly
completeness, for IRs. It advocates prioritizing metadata quality through standardized
practices, creator training, and quality control mechanisms. Addressing metadata enhances
ETD discoverability and utility both nationally and globally.
Description
26th International Symposium, ETD 2023, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 26-28 October, 2023
Keywords
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD), Institutional Repository Policies, Metadata Completeness, Metadata Quality