Madiha Asghar

Madiha's research focuses on Leveraging Technology and how Academic Libraries are Incorporating OERs into Digital Collections in New Zealand Universities

PhD Student Madiha Asghar
PhD Student Madiha Asghar

Email: madiha.asghar@vuw.ac.nz

Supervisors: Dr Anne Goulding and Dr Namali Sureweera

Profile:

Madiha Asghar has extensive professional experience as a librarian at a university library in Pakistan, where she served from 2012 to 2025. In 2024, she completed her Master's degree in Library and Information Science. Her research focused on “Awareness and Usability of Institutional Repositories among University Researchers.” Throughout her academic and professional career, she has actively participated in several national and international educational conferences, where she presented her research and scholarly work. These experiences have enhanced her expertise in academic librarianship, digital information management, research support services, and scholarly communication.

Research Interest:

Madiha's research interests lie at the intersection of Open Educational Resources (OER), digital libraries, digital repositories, information literacy, and human information-seeking behavior. As a librarian, Madiha is particularly interested in how academic institutions can leverage technology to improve access to knowledge through digital platforms and open education initiatives.

Abstract

The higher Education system highlights the need for a more innovative, digitally advanced, and accessible tertiary education system, emphasizing priorities like increasing the economic and societal impact of education, strengthening digital and flexible learning. The expectation that academic institutions use technology-enabled methods to promote equal access, lifelong learning, and knowledge sharing is at the heart of these aims. Open Educational Resources (OER) have significant potential to enable these goals. Academic Libraries worldwide have been transforming their assets and collections from print to digital formats, also transitioning their collection toward open-access materials. 

The primary objective of this study is to examine how academic libraries in New Zealand integrate OER into their digital collections. It further investigates the collection development policies of selected university libraries to understand the extent to which, and the ways in which, OER are incorporated into their collections. To provide a comprehensive understanding of these factors, the study is guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework and Institutional Theory, which together offer a lens for examining the technological, organizational, environmental, and institutional influences shaping OER integration within academic libraries. Methodologically, the research adopts a multimethod approach, combining qualitative and content analysis within a descriptive research design. Data will be collected through interviews and resources available on university websites, including OER/ digital collection development policies and related documentation.

The analysis will focus on identifying the strategies employed by university libraries to integrate OERs into their digital collections. The study will also examine existing practices and technological approaches used by university libraries, as well as identify key challenges and opportunities associated with OER integration. Furthermore, the findings will provide insights that may support the development of more effective collection development policies and institutional strategies for promoting open, accessible, and sustainable educational resources within academic libraries.

Previous Research:

  • Information Literacy Assessment: Pre and Post Survey
  • Open Educational Resources Awareness and usage among Faculty members
  • The Success Story of Information Literacy Program
  • Awareness and Usability of Institutional Repositories in Universities among Researchers
  • Print and digital resources usage among University Students

Qualifications:

  • B.A in Computer Sciences – University of the Punjab – Pakistan
  • Masters in Library and Information Sciences – Minhaj University of Lahore – Pakistan