Diversity,Equality,and Inclusion (DEI) in European iSchools’ With LIS Programme: Findings of an Exploratory Study

Abstract

This study explores the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the curricula of European iSchools with LIS programmes, addressing the gap between DEI’s widely recognised importance and its limited implementation in educational practice. Although DEI is a core value of library and information science, its systematic presence in European iSchool with Library and Information Science (LIS) programmes remains underexamined. An exploratory two-phase study was conducted across all European iSchools offering LIS programmes (n = 18). The first phase involved a content analysis of Master’s-level course syllabi to evaluate the presence, scope, and depth of DEI topics. Drawing on published literature, a framework to identify and categorise DEI-related content was developed. This framework was then applied to the course syllabi. The second phase surveyed instructors to examine their perceptions, teaching experiences, and challenges related to DEI education. Quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that DEI is inconsistently and often peripherally represented. Only 12 of the 18 institutions offered courses addressing DEI, primarily as electives and typically in a partial or fragmented manner. While most instructors reported strong support for the importance of DEI, fewer than half believed their programmes addressed it in a substantive way. Coverage was uneven, with greater attention given to age, disability, and general diversity topics, while race, gender, and religious diversity received limited focus. Insufficient faculty preparedness and a lack of institutional prioritisation emerged as key barriers. The findings suggest that DEI remains marginal rather than foundational in European iSchool LIS education, highlighting the need for systematic curricular integration and sustained faculty development.