Digital Competencies Required for Information Science Specialists at Saudi Universities

The objectives of this research were to identify the digital competencies required for information science specialists at Saudi universities and to examine whether there existed conspicuous differences in the standpoint of these specialists due to years of work experience with regard to the importance of these competencies. A descriptive analytical method was used to accomplish these objectives while extracting the required digital competency list and ascertaining its importance. The research sample comprised 24 experts in the field of information science from several universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The participants in the sample were asked to complete a questionnaire prepared to acquire the pertinent data in the period between January 5, 2021 and January 20, 2021. The results reveal that the digital competencies required for information science specialists at Saudi universities encompass general features such as the ability to use computer, Internet, Web2, Web3, and smartphone applications, digital learning resource development, data processing (big data) and its sharing via the Internet, system analysis, dealing with multiple electronic indexing applications and learning management systems and its features, using electronic bibliographic control tools, artificial intelligence tools, cybersecurity system maintenance, ability to comprehend and use different programming languages, simulation, and augmented reality applications, and knowledge and skills for 3D printing. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences were observed between the mean ranks of scores of specialists with less than 10 years of practical experience and those with practical experience of 10 years or more with regard to conferring importance to digital competencies.