Knowledge creation community portal for research development

Abstract

Developing thesis research remains the central requirement of graduation for most universities. Lack of personal knowledge and experience are among the main challenges facing post graduate students during their research completion. Failure to resolve these issues could lead to drop out or delay their graduation. It is considered that previously unacquainted research students who have already gone through the research writing can be a good knowledge and experience resource for those who have just started. It is a highly desirable to help post graduate students in order to overcome their difficulties in research development through facilitating experience and knowledge-sharing. Online communities and social networking have become important aspects in information systems technology nowadays. Developing or emerging these online communities for connecting educators can establish a powerful form of sustained professional learning. The purpose of this study is to develop web based community of knowledge-creation for research development, to help post graduate students overcome their research development difficulties, and to achieve such strategically professional sustainability. Multi-methodological approach was used for this study as it is more advisable for information system development research. The research was started by observation, literature review, and interviews to understand the current situation and identify required web tools and knowledge conversions within research development activities; next a questionnaire is used to develop the proposed model. Finally the information system was developed based on the proposed model. The user acceptance test proofs that the proposed model and developed system can successfully implemented and help post graduate students to overcome their difficulties.