Archival Advocacy as an Educational Component of Archival Studies

Abstract

The purpose of the article consists in clarifying the content, significance, and prospects of introducing the course Archival Advocacy into the educational programmes for training specialists in Library, Information and Archival Studies. The research methodology is based on the integrated application of general scientific and specialised methods, including analysis, synthesis, and generalisation. Scientific novelty. For the first time, consolidated comparative tables of the problem‑thematic structure of the academic discipline Archival Advocacy have been compiled, outlining its potential content and the possibilities for integration into the educational programmes of the specialty Library, Information and Archival Studies. The introduction of this discipline will contribute to the overall development of the archival field, support the formation of a modern image of the archive and the archivist, and provide additional advantages for students undergoing professional training. Conclusions. The important role of an active professional community in the successful development of any academic specialty is emphasised. The proactive engagement of academic staff in higher education institutions that train specialists in Library, Information and Archival Studies contributes to the modernisation of educational programmes and ensures their alignment with contemporary requirements and challenges. It is noted that the inclusion of archival advocacy in study plans has a dual effect: it strengthens the substantive preparation of future professionals while simultaneously supporting image‑building initiatives within the archival sector as a promising professional environment. A modular structure of the discipline is proposed, including: Archives in Society: Mission, Value, Responsibility; Theoretical Foundations of Archival Advocacy; Key Actors in Archival Advocacy; Public Archival Projects and Public Relations; Access to Archives as an Advocacy Tool; The Professional Community and Advocacy; Advocacy in Crisis Situations; Digital Advocacy; Evaluating the Effectiveness of Archival Advocacy. It is further noted that familiarising students with strategies and tactics of professional advocacy enhances the visibility of the archival field among policymakers, government officials, donors, philanthropists, and other target audiences capable of influencing support for archives at both the state level and within society at large.