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| ETD 2024 took place in Livingstone, Zambia |
I had the privilege of participating in the 27th International Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD 2024), which took place as a hybrid event in Livingstone, Zambia, from November 4th to 6th, hosted by the University of Zambia. The conference provided a unique opportunity for professionals in the fields of digital libraries, open science, and graduate education to gather, collaborate, and explore advancements in Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs).
The hybrid nature of the event made it possible for global audiences to participate, with sessions spanning a wide range of topics, including ETD implementation use cases, open access to ETDs, the intersection of open science and ETDs, long-term preservation, the global visibility of ETDs, and the transformative role of large language models in ETD research.
Day 1 at ETD 2024
Workshops
ETD 2024 kicked off with workshops designed for all experience levels. "ETDs 101: No Experience Required!" introduced attendees to the basics of Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs), covering fundamental concepts, their importance, and practical steps for creating and managing them. Another workshop, "Leveraging ORCID's Global Participation Program and Regional Consortium Approach to Enhance Global ETD Discoverability and Reuse," led by Lombe Tembo from ORCID, focused on using persistent identifiers (PIDs) to improve the discoverability and reusability of ETDs. It highlighted how linking ETDs to ORCID profiles enhances researchers' visibility and credibility, and underscored ORCID's value for institutions by improving research connections and reducing administrative burdens.
#ETD2024 pre-conference day kicks off with the ETD 101 workshop facilitated by @connectinfolit@lightonphiri@slumou@UnzaOfficial@heazambia@ZambiaRenpic.twitter.com/Y3HlLfib5B
— NDLTD (@NDLTD) November 4, 2024
#ETD2024 pre-conf day continues with @ORCID_Org and ETD 101 workshops pic.twitter.com/lGIpiLrZuu
— NDLTD (@NDLTD) November 4, 2024
Globalizing Knowledge: Leveraging Large Language Models to Enhance Accessibility of ETDs
During the first day of the conference, I attended the workshop on "Globalizing Knowledge: Leveraging Large Language Models to Enhance Accessibility of ETDs." This workshop was chaired by Dr. Yinlin Chen and William A. Ingram from Virginia Tech University Libraries, along with Dr. Edward A. Fox from the Department of Computer Science at Virginia Tech. The theme was application of large language models and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) techniques to improve the accessibility and usability of ETDs.
The workshop began with an introduction to generative AI and large language models (LLMs). The presenters explained how these models, such as GPT-4 and Llama 3.1, could generate natural language text by predicting the next word in a sequence. They discussed the potential of LLMs to transform the way ETDs are accessed and utilized by making them more discoverable and easier to navigate.
The #ETD2024 workshop "Globalizing Knowledge: Leveraging Large Language Models to Enhance Accessibility of ETDs" kicked off with an insightful keynote by @Yinlin_Chen from @virginia_tech. The speech explored various LLMs, their capabilities, and features. #LLMspic.twitter.com/Gdl0hrXy0l
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 4, 2024
One of the key concepts introduced was RAG, which combines the strengths of retrieval-based systems and generative models. The presenters demonstrated how RAG could be used to enhance the accuracy and relevance of responses generated by LLMs. By retrieving relevant documents or information from a large corpus based on user queries and augmenting this information into the model’s input, RAG reduces the likelihood of generating incorrect or misleading information.
The workshop also included a hands-on exercise where participants could implement LLM-based solutions for translating and standardizing ETD metadata and content. This practical session provided valuable insights into how to create and query unified vector databases for ETD collections, improving both accessibility and discoverability. The presenters highlighted the importance of prompt engineering and retrieval techniques, such as BM25 and embedding-based retrieval, to optimize the performance of LLMs in handling ETDs.
In addition to the technical aspects, the workshop addressed the challenges and limitations of using LLMs for ETDs. Issues such as context limitations, data dependency, and the potential for hallucinations were discussed. Dr. Yinlin Chen stressed the importance of continuous learning and adaptation of LLMs to improve their performance over time. He also emphasized the needs for careful implementation and integration of these technologies into existing digital library systems to ensure they meet the specific needs of ETD users.
The workshop concluded with a discussion on the future directions of research and applications of LLMs in ETDs. Dr. Chen called for more workshops and collaborative efforts to explore advanced RAG architectures and specialized topics related to ETDs. He encouraged participants to share their experiences and ideas to further enhance the accessibility and discoverability of ETDs through the use of LLMs.
Day 2 at ETD 2024
The second day of the ETD 2024 conference began with welcome remarks from Lighton Phiri, the board director of ETD'2024, addressing over 150 participants. This was followed by opening remarks from key institutions, including the Higher Education Authority of Zambia, the Zambia Research Education Network, and the University of Zambia.
Our Board Director @lightonphiri@UnzaOfficial gives welcoming remarks to more than 150 #ETD2024 participants pic.twitter.com/HXYqcbW0Qt
— NDLTD (@NDLTD) November 5, 2024
Keynote speaker Dr. Hussein Suleman from the University of Cape Town presented insights on "Resilience and ETD Repositories in Poor Countries," focusing on challenges and solutions for digital library systems in low-resource environments.
Supporting knowledge sharing across borders! We're attending the 27th International Symposium on Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD 2024) 4-6 Nov. in Livingstone, Zambia. Excited to collaborate, learn, and connect with global experts. #ETD2024 #KnowledgeForAll #UKSInAfrica pic.twitter.com/lMCE61T7jA
— Universal Knowledge Software (@UKS_Knowledge) November 5, 2024
The morning sessions included sponsor talks by ProQuest and EBSCO Information Services, highlighting their contributions to the field of ETDs.
Session 1B: Policies and Practices
Exciting start to Session 1B: Policies and Practices at #ETD2024! Shahzeb Hasan's insightful talk on "Future-Proofing Research by Long-term ETD Preservation: Challenges and Opportunities" emphasized the crucial need to preserve ETDs. 📚📷 #ETD2024@WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/OprvYTwGPT
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
I attended the session titled "Policies and Practices," which provided a comprehensive overview of the current policies and best practices in managing ETDs. Shahzeb Hasan presented their work "Future-Proofing Research by Long-term ETD Preservation: Challenges and Opportunities" emphasizing the crucial need to preserve ETDs and discussing their role in making academic research accessible globally and fostering collaboration. He traced the evolution of ETDs from the 1990s, discussing advancements in digital storage, metadata standards, and dissemination platforms. Hasan also reviewed literature on the adoption and challenges of ETDs, highlighting the importance of long-term preservation and institutional responsibility.
Jive Lubbungu presented their study, "E-Theses and Dissertations in Zambia: A Case Study of Two Universities in Kabwe," focusing on ETD implementation at both Kwame Nkrumah University and Mulungushi University. He highlighted the success of establishing institutional repositories and increasing the accessibility of academic research at both institutions. However, he also faced challenges such as resistance from staff to deposit dissertations, the lack of technical expertise, and intermittent network connectivity. The study emphasized the need for strategic investments in technical infrastructure and training to overcome these obstacles and enhance ETD management.Jive Lubbungu is currently presenting their study, "E-Theses and Dissertations in Zambia: A Case Study of Two Universities in Kabwe," during Session 1B on Policies and Practices at #ETD2024. @WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/9pmw9ZiGW8
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
Wrapping up Session 1B at #ETD2024 with an insightful presentation by Lanka Ranaweera on "Nurturing Advanced Research Culture among Medical Practitioners through ETDs: A Case Study from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka."@WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/60y3T5FyXa
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
Lanka Ranaweera presented on "Nurturing Advanced Research Culture among Medical Practitioners through ETDs: A Case Study from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka," highlighting how ETDs contribute to advancing medical research. The study reviewed ETD contributions across multiple academic programs within the Faculty of Medicine, including the Master of Public Health, BSc in Speech and Hearing Sciences, and PhD in Molecular Medicine. The presentation emphasized on how ETDs enhanced research visibility, fostered interdisciplinary collaboration, and contributed to evidence-based healthcare solutions in Sri Lanka.
Session 2B: ETDs in Developing Countries
In the afternoon, I attended Session 2B, which started with the presentation by Joseph P. Telemala on "Improving the Mkulima Repository Content: Utilizing Theses, Dissertations, and LLMs for Agricultural Knowledge Dissemination in Kiswahili." The study focused on using Large Language Models (LLMs) to translate agricultural ETDs into Kiswahili. The study evaluated the accuracy of translations using the MarianMT model, revealing challenges such as mistranslations of agricultural terminology, grammatical errors, and disrupted logical flow. Despite these issues, the evaluation showed that LLMs have potential, but human oversight is crucial for ensuring the accuracy of domain-specific translations. Telemala emphasized the need for curated Swahili-English datasets to improve the translation of agricultural research.Kicking off Session 2B focused on "ETDs in Developing Countries" at #ETD2024 with Joseph P. Telemala's presentation on "Improving the Mkulima Repository Content: Utilizing Theses, Dissertations, and LLMs for Agricultural Knowledge Dissemination in Kiswahili."@WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/xrw6FhbQTv
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
Kamani Perera presented their work "Empowering HRM Professionals: Advancing Research Culture with ETDs in The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Sri Lanka". She highlighted how ETDs were fostering a research culture among Human Resource Management (HRM) professionals by enhancing their professional development and promoting evidence-based practices. The study discussed the challenges and benefits of using ETDs in HRM, including accessibility, preservation, and collaboration.Excited to hear the presentation on "Empowering HRM Professionals: Advancing Research Culture with ETDs in The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Sri Lanka" by Kamani Perera, Anushka Earskin, and Indika Wijayasriwardana in Session 2B at #ETD2024! 🌟📚@WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/VqPtTUDWKn
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
Kamani Perera also presented "Unlocking the Potential of ETDs: Implementation of a Novel ETD Repository in Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Sri Lanka," focusing on enhancing digital accessibility and promoting open access for HRM research. The study emphasized the benefits of ETDs in improving research visibility, fostering collaboration, and supporting evidence-based practices in HRM. Perera highlighted the implementation methodology, including the selection of the DSpace software and the use of anti-plagiarism tools, and concluded with the repository's success in increasing the global visibility and sustainability of HRM research.Kamani Perera presenting at #ETD2024"Unlocking the Potential of ETDs: Implementation of a Novel ETD Repository in Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Sri Lanka." Exciting insights on enhancing access to HRM research through ETD repositories!@WebSciDLpic.twitter.com/Uv93QetqOr
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
I am excited to share that I presented our paper, "ETD-MS v2.0: A Proposed Extended Standard for Metadata of Electronic Theses and Dissertations," at the ETD 2024 conference in Livingstone, Zambia! #ETD2024@WebSciDL@fanchyna@sudobearpic.twitter.com/dYQTK49u4O
— Lamia Salsabil (@liya_lamia) November 5, 2024
Day 3 at ETD 2024
🤩Great panel discussion & collective brainstorming on how to successfully set up ETD projects in 🇿🇲 w @gabioshka@DataCite Manoj Kumar @INFLIBNET@lightonphiri Zachary Zulu @UnzaOfficial chaired by @slumou at #ETD2024pic.twitter.com/D8qXOUFGdD
— NDLTD (@NDLTD) November 6, 2024
Time for the poster minute madness at #ETD2024 w @UnzaOfficial@INFLIBNET@unisa@zouuniversity@go2uj⏳ pic.twitter.com/yCuY0FFQAV
— NDLTD (@NDLTD) November 6, 2024