ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 – Next Steps: Electronic Theses and Dissertations Worldwide

Susanne Dobratz

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Thanks to all of you!

• My collegues from Humboldt-University• Programme Committee• NDLTD for trusting us to hold this conference• All participants:

– It couldn‘t have happend without you!

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Thanks to all of you!

• Funding Organisations– UNESCO (Axel Plathe)– Open Society Institute New York (Melissa Hagemann)– German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)– German Academic Research Foundation (DFG)

• Commercial Sponsors: – Brocade, CISCO Systems, Controlware, Enterasys, ExLibris,

IBM Germany and Carus, ImageWare, Lehmanns, LIB-IT GmbH, NIONEX, Springer, SUN Microsystems and T-Systems.

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

We reached new dimensions

• 215 Participants from 46 Countries

• 28 Vendors• 68 Speakers

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Programme Highlights

• Standardization• Preservation as primary issues• XML as a publication strategy / workflow• Lot of talks about national efforts & regional consortia

efforts• Implementation issues • Training methods• Library issues

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Highlights

• Well attended Tutorials on Tuesday:– Cybertheses (Martin Sévigny)– DissertationOnline (Peter Diepold, Collegues from

German National Library)– XML for ETDs (Matthias Schulz, Sabine

Henneberger, Susanne Dobratz)• More tomorrow:

– OAI (Uwe Müller, Heinrich Stamerjohanns)– ETds for Beginners (Ed Fox)

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Highlights

• Mr. Simon, the Chess Player• Reception in Senatehall and Sight Seeing Tour on

Wednesday• Dinner with Dinosaurs on Thursday

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

NDLTD

• Established a new board of directors,• Groups

• Series of Conferences:– 2004 University of Kentucky, Lexington (USA)– 2005 University of New South Wales, Sydney

(Australia)

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Communication Technology

• ETD2003 Conference software– Abstracts– Fulltexts in XML / HTML available

• UNESCO database to be integrated into NDLTD website

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

UNESCO Clearing HouseThe Idea

• Initiated by UNESCO headquarters in September ‘99• The aim:

– To define the needs of developing countries in the area of ETD

– To discuss possible international actions – To setup a database of

institutions, experts, and materials

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

UNESCO Clearing HouseThe Database

• Collection of entries on a voluntarily baseeditorial checking and activating

• No many entries until the end of 2002• Attempt to reactivate it to create a network of experts

and activities• First step: ETD 2003

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

UNESCO Clearing HouseThe Vision

• Need more– People– Materials

• To get a portal for worldwide– Exchange of ideas and experiences– Initiate cooperations– Assistance for new projects

• http://www.eduserver.de/unesco/

ETD2003 Summing Up

© Susanne Dobratz, Humboldt University, Computer and Media Service 23.5.2003

Conclusion by Sarantos Kapidakis

The ETDs belong to the category of the “grey literature“ which is essential to be known to the researchers, academics, students etc. Except for the cases of patent pending, ETDs should be open and accessible to all, because this is the purpose of the existence of digital libraries of Theses and Dissertations.

The electronic submission and access of ETDs gives the opportunity to students and academics to know about the evolution of the research in their topic. This ensures the promotion of the research and the development of the new technologies. In contrast, the printed ETDs were unknown and rarely used.

In conclusion, the purpose is the development of a global digital library of ETDs, which will be very useful for all.