How relevant are library and information science curricula outside their geographic domain?

Australian library and information science (LIS) courses are popular outside Australia, and Australia is a popular study destination for students in the region. This paper takes a comparative approach to attempt to determine whether ALIA (the Australian Library and Information Association)'s core curriculum for LIS education is appropriate outside Australia. It is based on research into the future needs for education of library professionals in the digital era with special consideration of the needs of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) , Hong Kong, People's Republic of China(PRC), on ALIA education statements, and on curriculum statements from the US and Europe.