MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies

Year of entry: 2025

Course unit details:
Records and Information Management Practise (RIMP)

Course unit fact file
Unit code SALC61052
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course unit aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of theories, principles, standards, and concepts which guides and regulates archives and records and information management practices within the public sector and corporate organisations as well as cultural institutions including galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM). 

The module will explore the evolution of record-keeping systems spanning the past three centuries. It will delve into various facets of records management practise, including topics like records appraisal, disaster planning, and management techniques tailored for professionals in the field of record-keeping and collection management. 

The course unit will give a special focus on the area of core principles and concepts in records and information management; records creation, capture, and classification; records and information storage and retrieval systems; records preservation and disposal; emerging trends and best practices in information and records management including the legal and regulatory framework for management of information asset. 

The course will also discuss strategies for collaboration among information professionals and other allied professionals including information literacy and digital collection management in libraries. 

The scope of activity in this course unit comprises of lectures and seminars, classroom discussion, case studies as well as formal and informal feedback, plus a one-day experience-based-study trip to a leading organization in the records management industry within Manchester. Teaching will take place at the University’s main campus and occasionally at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library to engage and interact with records-and-information-management professionals.

Aims

  • Provide students with a comprehensive foundation, in-depth knowledge, and understanding of the basic concepts, principles, strategies, and theories that underpin archives, records management practice, and information governance and compliance.
  • Explore current discussions regarding records management practices and its connections to concepts such as good governance, accountability, data protection and sensitivity.  
  • Develop a fundamental understanding of the legal framework which guides and regulates archive, records management and information governance and compliance within the local and international contexts.  
  • Equip students with relevant skills and knowledge of legal frameworks, regulations, and ethical guidance governing the creation, management, and disposal of information assets across the public sector and corporate organisations including cultural institutions.

Syllabus

The indicative syllabus for this course unit are as follows: 

Introduction to Records and Information Management (RIM) Week 1 - Understanding RIM

Week 2 - Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

Week 3 - Core Principles

Week 4 - Metadata and Taxonomy

Week 5 - Records Creation and Capture

Week 6: Records-Management Organization Study Trip

Week 7 - Storage Solutions

Week 8 - Retrieval and Access

Week 9 - Preservation Techniques

Week 10 - Disposal and Retention Policies

Week 11 - Information security and risk management

Week 12 - Technology Trends, Best Practices, and Case Studies
 

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching and learning for this core course will be covered within 12-week period. The scope of activity will involve an active and engaging teaching method which will primarily include lectures and seminars, classroom discussion, case studies as well as formal and informal feedback. Such a learning environment will foster intellectual curiosity, encourage collaboration, and support the students in their quest for knowledge and personal growth.  

It will also include a one-day experience-based-study trip to visit a leading organization in the records management industry within Manchester, where the students will be exposed to invaluable insights and practical knowledge on contemporary Information and records management practise. This activity will provide them with practical application of their learning. 

Lectures and seminar activities will be within the university’s main campus. and on a few occasions a visit to the university’s archives and records management office where the student will have the opportunity to engage and interact with informational Management professionals who will be invited for talks during class sessions.  

Each session will be highly interactive and engaging in nature and give every student the opportunity to feel free to ask questions. This is to encourage diversity and inclusivity, develop transferable skills, and encourage open communication. This teaching method will provide opportunities for group discussions and interaction during class sessions and seminars. This approach will help to ensure that students not only learn the course material but also develop strong communication and interpersonal skills that are essential to success in their roles.

At the end of the teaching weeks, students will be assessed with two separate summative essays of which the first will carry 40% percent weighting and the second assessment will be 60%. This is to test their knowledge and full understanding of what they have learned. 

Knowledge and understanding

  • Conduct a critical assessment of the nature, relevance, and scope of local and international laws, legislation, and guidance concerning information and records management in the public sector, corporate information governance, and cultural institutions.  
  • Develop proven skills and knowledge in the creation, analysis, maintenance storage, and retrieval, as well as good disposal of Information, archives, and records within any organizational system, in line with organization policies and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.  
  • Gain the basic skills and in-depth knowledge necessary to progress in careers as knowledge and Information Management professionals both in corporate and public sector organisations including in libraries, archives as well as cultural institutions. 

Intellectual skills

  • Employ intellectual abilities necessary to enhance students’ critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills, necessary for analysing and evaluating records and information, managing legal and regulatory requirements as well as ethical issues concerning records and information management within an organisational setting.
  • Engage in discussions regarding the importance of sensitive information and how to manage legal and regulatory requirements including privacy issues associated with the creation, use, management, and disposal of information across various types of organisations.
  • Develop research skills to identify best practices, legal and regulatory requirements, and industry standards concerning archives, records management, information governance, and compliance.  

Practical skills

  • Apply relevant practical skills needed to effectively organize, classify, manage, and dispose records throughout their lifecycle. They will also gain techniques for efficient document storage, retention, retrieval, and disposal, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Develop the ability and practical skills to perform duties in data governance, information security, and data protection, and establish and enforce policies, procedures, and standards to guide the creation, use, management, and security of information within any organizational setting.  
  • Gain practical skills necessary to navigate strategies, policies, and procedures of legal and regulatory requirements concerning records management and information governance. This will provide the students with skills needed to effectively carry out monitoring and assessing compliance and conducting audits in any work environment. 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

  • Provide advice on the implementation of information and records management good practices, processes, and policies within any organisational setting.
  • Develop effective written and verbal communication skills to be able to engage with different stakeholders and audiences in a work environment.  
  • Students will develop a strong sense of responsibility in handling sensitive information and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements in any work environment.  
  • Develop the ability to adapt to new tools, strategies, methodologies, and best practices in managing archive records and information management. 

Employability skills

Group/team working
Student will develop the practical knowledge and intellectual ability to lead and support the development, and implementation of Information Security and Assurance good practices, policies, and procedures and to provide pragmatic security and information assurance advice to stakeholders within complex organisations. Furthermore, they will gain relevant skills needed to independently and as a team and across international networks.
Innovation/creativity
Students will gain skills centred on curiosity and creativity including critical analysis, balancing innovation, and tradition, problem-solving in complex organizations, and research thinking in the world of information management.
Leadership
This course unit will expose the students to the skills and knowledge needed to lead and support the development of policies, standards, guidelines, and monitoring procedures for archives and records and information governance practise in any organizational setting.
Project management
This course unit prepare students for careers in the area of “knowledge and information management’” and be well positioned to take up career roles as Records Managers, Digital Curators, Information Governance Officers, Archivists, Information and Data Compliance Managers, and Project Archivists.

Assessment methods

Assessment taskFormative or SummativeLengthWeighting within unit (if relevant)

Peer Discussion

Class Discussion

Group Task

Formative 0%
Oral Presentation and Practical TaskSummative5 minute presentation (500 word equivalent) and 500 word reflection40%
EssaySummative2000 words60%

Feedback methods

Feedback methodFormative or Summative
Verbal feedback in seminar discussionsFormative
Written feedbackSummative

Recommended reading

Bedford, D. 'Introducing information management ... implementation of business classification file plans ...', Records Management Journal, 16(3), 2006. 

Boles, F. and Young, J.M. 'Exploring the black box: the appraisal of university administrative records', American Archivist, 48(2), 1985

Brown, R. 'Macro-appraisal theory and the context of the public records creator', Archivaria, 40, 1995

Caroline, Brown, Archives and Recordkeeping: Theory into Practice (London: Facet Publishing, 2014)

Cabinet Office Open Government Plan. UK National Action Plan, 2013 to 2015 (2013) available

Craig, B. (2002) Rethinking formal knowledge and its practices in the organization: the British Treasury's registry between 1900 and 1950 Archival Science, 2(1-2)

Dingwall, G. 'Life cycle and continuum: a view of recordkeeping models from the postwar era' in Eastwood, T. and MacNeil, H. (eds) Currents of archival thinking, ABC-CLIO, 2010 

Evans, J. et al. 'Interoperable data: sustainable frameworks for creating and managing recordkeeping metadata', Records Management Journal, 18(2), 2008.

Gillian Oliver, Fiorella, Foscrarini., Recordkeeping Cultures (Facet Publication, 2010) 

Jennie Hill, The Future of Archives and Recordkeeping: A Reader (London: Facet, 2010) 

McKemmish, S. et al 'Describing records in context in the continuum: the

Australian Recordkeeping Metadata Schema', Archivaria, 48, 1999

Millar, Laura A., Archives: Principles and Practices (London: Facet Publishing, 2010, 2017) 

Reed, B. (2005) Records, In McKemmish S et al. (eds) Archives: recordkeeping in society, Centre for Information Studies, Charles Sturt University. Wagga Wagga, pp.101-130 

Robert F. Smallwood and Roberts F. Willams., Managing Electronic Records: Methods, Best Practices, and Technologies (John Wileys &Sons, Incorporated, 2013)

Robert F. Smallwood Information Governance: Concepts, Strategies, and Best Practices, (John Wileys &Sons, Incorporated, 2020)

Shepherd, Elizabeth, and Geoffery Yeo, Managing Records: A Handbook of Principles and Practice (London: Facet Publishing, 2003)

Tough, A.G. and Lihoma, P. (2012) Development of record keeping systems in the British Empire / Commonwealth, 1870s - 1960s. Archives & Manuscripts, 40 (3).

Upward, F. 'Modelling the continuum as paradigm shift in recordkeeping an

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 24
Independent study hours
Independent study 126

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Kenneth Atuma Unit coordinator

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