Comparative and International Education: An Introduction to Theory, Method, and Practice

Description

This revised and updated second edition of Comparative and International Education: An Introduction to Theory, Method and Practice provides a comprehensive and authoritative introduction to the key themes, definitions and approaches in this important field. It covers the history, theory, and methods of comparative and international education, as well as the relationship with education and national development, and outlines what we can learn from comparative studies. Clear explanations are complemented with examples of real research in the field including work on policy borrowing, learner-centred pedagogy and university internationalization.

David Phillips is Emeritus Professor of Comparative Education at the University of Oxford, UK, and an Emeritus Fellow of St Edmund Hall, Oxford, UK. Michele Schweisfurth is Professor of Comparative and International Education at the University of Glasgow, UK. She is also Editor of the journal Comparative Education and was Chair of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (2010-12).

This valuable, updated second edition of Comparative and International Education: An Introduction to Theory, Method and Practice provides a comprehensive and in-depth introduction to the evolving field of comparative and international education ... [This book] is highly recommended for educational practitioners and scholars (from both inside and outside the field of comparative and international education) who seek a better understanding of the field. This book will also be highly useful in providing a global framework for education students and early-stage scholars new to this field. -- Netta Sagie, Tel Aviv University * Journal of Research in International Education * [Comparative and International Education, 1st edition] is very approachable and clearly written and yet manages to address major features a beginning comparative educator would need to learn about the field...I would recommend the text for an initial comparative/international education course. -- Suzanne Majhanovich * Comparative Education Review * A must-read for those interested in the cultural history of comparative education, the complexities of studying a human enterprise that is in constant change, and the societal implications of scholars' conclusions. Phillips and Schweisfurth build a strong foundation of theory for the practice needed for learning and teaching in a dynamic educational future. * David L. Stoloff, Professor, Education Department, Eastern Connecticut State University, USA * Both students and teachers of comparative and international education will welcome this revised and updated version of what has, rightly, become a core book in the field. In providing this concise, balanced and highly readable overview the authors have made a valuable contribution to an increasingly important area of study. * Clive Harber, Emeritus Professor of International Education, University of Birmingham, UK and Honorary Professor of Education, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa * An excellent book for students of comparative and international education to indulge in. It leaves the reader with a thorough insight into what comparative education is all about... and provides readers with a firm foundation for further absorption into the many aspects of the field. It is a pleasure also to recommend the book as a course book for comparative education courses outside the English-speaking world. * Thyge Winther-Jensen, Professor in Department of Educational Sociology, School of Education, University of Aarhus, Denmark * Reading [Comparative and International Education, 1st edition] will provide you with a solid grounding in the principles of comparative and international education, and will equip you with a better understanding of the theory and practice that lies behind these terms. It is an in-depth and specialised text suitable for education professionals. -- SEDA, September 2009 Comparative and International Education: An Introduction to Theory, Method, and Practice, now in its second edition, continues to live up to its name ... New directions and research foci are couched within a succinct and clear explication of the fundamentals of comparative research. Discussions are presented in an easily readable yet thought-provoking way ... Education students, researchers, seasoned teachers, and the growing community of users and producers of comparative studies will find in this book an excellent vademecum. The authors sincerely deserve to be commended for writing it. * Comparative Education Review (of the second edition) * No one should embark on comparative or international study of education without reading - and using - this book. It is not only an essential source, but also a rich and erudite journey through a range of possibilities for comparison. Whether post-colonialism or test results, development or human rights, pedagogy or global citizenship, the book raises critical questions of why and how to research across cultures and contexts. This new edition continues to provide such critical insights while addressing new challenges posed by global communications and policy transfer. -- Lynn Davies, Emeritus Professor of International Education, University of Birmingham, UK Comparative and International Education is a refreshing and authoritative text covering the history, methods, theory, and current developments of the field. This book provides a solid grounding for new scholars of comparative and international education, as well as for anyone involved in educational research in international contexts. The authors present concise chapters that cover a complex landscape, while also raising important questions that invite discussion and debate. The inclusion of a chapter on policy transfer and borrowing in this second edition rounds out the volume, making it an even stronger foundational text for the field. * Laura M Portnoi, Associate Professor of Education, California State University, Long Beach, USA * David Phillips and Michele Schweisfurth should be commended for this engaging introduction to comparative and international education. The comprehensive chapters on history, method, and competing perspectives in the field are enhanced by their discussion of enduring themes, such as policy transfer, pedagogy, and post-conflict education. Throughout, the authors emphasize the importance of context in single and multiple country studies and the explanatory potential of comparison in theoretical and applied research. * Frances Vavrus, Associate Professor of Comparative and International Development Education, University of Minnesota, USA * Good highlight on some of the core contents and methods used in comparative and international education. * Qi Sun, Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA *