Assessing and Promoting Metadata Quality for Electronic Theses and Dissertations in Institutional Repositories Using a Policy-Driven Approach

Abstract

Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) have become integral to higher education institutions' (HEIs) repositories, facilitating accessibility, sharing, and preservation of research. High-quality metadata is crucial for effective ETD discovery, retrieval, and preservation. The Zambia National ETD portal project seeks to aggregate metadata from HEIs for a nationwide portal. This study examines ETD metadata quality and ingestion processes in HEI repositories, focusing on institutional repository policies. Using mixed methods, the research assesses ETD metadata in Zambian HEIs with functional repositories. Quantitative analysis rates metadata completeness using the ETD-MS standard. Interviews with 16 stakeholders from 8 HEIs identify policy-related influences on metadata quality. Result shows low ETD metadata completeness, averaging 6.43 out of 10. Institutions often diverge from standards like ETD-MS, creating their own or adapting existing ones. Compliance with NDLTD's 14 metadata elements is poor, with optional elements like contributors and coverage often missing. The study highlights metadata's importance, particularly completeness, for IRs. It advocates prioritizing metadata quality through standardized practices, creator training, and quality control mechanisms. Addressing metadata enhances ETD discoverability and utility both nationally and globally.