International and comparative education

Educational problems and policies are less and less likely to be framed entirely within their local context. More commonly, as education is caught up in moves towards the global ‘knowledge economy’, countries compare their policies and performance in education, and adapt or adopt elements of other systems. But this ‘cultural borrowing’ is actually an intricate art, which raises key questions of culture, identity and context. International organizations, often economic (such as the OECD, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank) are also having an increasing impact on how national educational policies and programs are framed, as are institutions such as UNESCO, UNICEF and the UNDP. Educational aid (bi-lateral and multi-lateral) also shapes the development of national education systems, particularly in the developing world. These processes and institutions are the stuff of research in international and comparative education.

Researchers in this area include: