Institutional Research Knowledge Repository

Transforming Research Records into Organised Institutional Knowledge

Overview

Kharazmi University's Central Library, Museum and Archives has developed an institutional knowledge management initiative to organise, preserve and make research-related institutional records more accessible and usable.

The initiative brings together three collections of institutional research information: Research Council meeting records and decisions, internal research projects, and externally funded research projects.

Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Preserve institutional research knowledge and support organisational memory.

• Improve the organisation and retrieval of research-related records.

• Transform dispersed records into structured information resources.

• Facilitate access to research information for university and faculty leadership.

Approach and Activities

The Central Library, Museum and Archives coordinates the organisation of research-related records and the development of dedicated information repositories.

Information displays have also been prepared to present selected aspects of university research activities and decisions in accessible formats.

Knowledge Intermediary Role

The initiative demonstrates how an academic library can act as a knowledge intermediary by connecting institutional records with potential organisational users.

Through knowledge organisation, documentation and information presentation, the library helps make existing institutional knowledge more accessible to research administrators.

Implementation and Current Results

Three specialised research information collections have been developed. Information displays have been prepared and distributed to the University's Vice-President for Research and Technology, faculty vice-deans for research, and faculty deans.

The subsequent use of these outputs in management decisions and their organisational impact have not yet been formally evaluated.

Relevance to Knowledge Valorisation

The initiative illustrates a non-commercial approach to knowledge valorisation, with particular emphasis on institutional knowledge stewardship, knowledge translation and the intermediary role of academic libraries.

Its methods may offer transferable insights for other higher education institutions seeking to improve the organisation and communication of research-related institutional knowledge.
 

Implementing Institution: Kharazmi University, Iran

Responsible Unit: Central Library, Museum and Archives

Contact: Dr. Somaye Sadat Akhshik, Associate Professor and Head of Central Library, Museum and Archives

Email: akhshikkhu.ac.ir