This paper reflects upon Peter Jarvis's contribution to comparative scholarship and the linked fields of comparative education and comparative adult education. Both have their own historical developments, literatures, issues and concerns; both have been influenced by Peter's substantial works for close to fifty years--a period in time when the…

The international transfer of educational policy and practice has long been a key theme in comparative research and scholarship. Recent years have seen renewed attention to the processes of international policy transfer, with new understandings emerging from innovative theorising and analysis. This article examines the nature and implications of…

Comparative research on education in small states has attracted international attention since the mid-1980s when the Commonwealth sponsored a number of seminal meetings and publications, and became a key advocate for the advancement of such work. This article considers the place of different dimensions of scale in comparative research; re-examines…

Drawing upon recent work for the Commonwealth Secretariat and our ongoing comparative research, this article focuses upon the nature, impact and implications of contemporary development challenges for education in small states. It is argued that the post-Jomtien era has been dominated by international goals and targets that have focussed…

Comparative and international research in education has a well-established history, and one that has seen the changing fortunes of a diversity of research approaches and paradigms. As Epstein (forthcoming) demonstrates, much can be gained from critical reflection upon philosophical and epistemological "benchmarks" in this field, and from…

The article argues that greater attention should be paid to contextual factors in educational research and international development cooperation. The analysis draws upon principles that underpin socio-cultural approaches to comparative education, a critical analysis of the political economy of contemporary educational research, and recent research…

This paper examines the intellectual and professional contribution of comparative and international studies to the field of education. It explores the nature of the challenges that are currently being faced, and assesses its potential for the advancement of future teaching, research and professional development. Attention is paid to the place of…

Addressing the central theme of the XIII World Congress, the paper explores a number of contemporary theoretical, methodological and organisational developments in the field of comparative education. In doing so it draws upon the author's recent work and a selection of studies carried out in the South Pacific, the Caribbean and Africa. It is…

This paper critically examines the impact of global development agendas upon the nature and direction of educational development in small states. This generates a critique of the international transfer of western policy trajectories and related research modalities, identifies the strategic importance of small states, and explores possible ways…

Distinguishes between three traditions of case study in educational research. Discusses the changing nature of comparative education and the value and limitations of the modern case study, as advocated by Lawrence Stenhouse, in educational research. Describes a case study of secondary education in Papua New Guinea. (SB)

Discusses some areas of particular interest in the study of education in the South Pacific islands: educational development in small, recently decolonized nations; mismatch between policies of donors of international aid and the needs of developing nations; importance of understanding the context of education; and misapplication of educational…

There is a tendency in Western countries to view school-centered innovation (SCI) as the new panacea for the problems of curriculum change. To investigate the potential and limitations of SCI in developing countries, a case study of the Secondary Schools Community Extension Project in Papua New Guinea was conducted. (RM)

Globalization is revitalizing comparative and international educational research. While recognizing that context matters, this process should emphasize increased collaboration between the humanities and social science research traditions; the global and the local; mainstream and specialist research communities; differing units of analysis;…

Argues that the field of comparative and international education must be reconceptualized and redeveloped in order to demonstrate its potential to improve educational policy and practice worldwide and to advance theoretical work in education. Aims at stimulating discussion to generate further avenues for future research and development. (CMK)

While small-scale initiatives in educational innovation do have advantages, problems are often encountered during the process of project replication or extension. Increased awareness of potential hazards with regard to pilot projects is a prerequisite for successful educational planning and development. (RM)