Through readings, discussion and assignments, this course will introduce participants to the field of Comparative Education and to the issues that currently dominate comparative and international research in education. The two texts for the course are the following:

1) Schriewer, Jurgen and Brian Holmes (Eds.). 1988. Theories and Methods in Comparative Education Verlag Peter Lang GmbH: Frankfurt am Main.

2) Bradshaw, York. (Ed.).1997. Education in Comparative Perspective: New Lessons from Around the World E.J. Brill: The Netherlands.

In addition to these textbooks at the bookstore, selected chapters from journals and additional books will be put on reserve. These will be identified during each week's readings.

The course has the following educational objectives:

- To introduce students to the field of comparative education and the challenges and issues that predominate

- To develop an understanding of the relationship between the government, the economy and education

- To enable students to contrast and compare educational systems as to their role within the political and economic development of a changing society

- To enable students to critically analyze the issues and challenges facing education systems in an era of change

Topics for the Course:

• The role of comparative education theories in policy formation for developing cointries

• Policy formation in countries in transition

• Education's role in economic and political reform

• Regional education issues during a period of global change

• Education and economic growth

Course Requirements

Each week topics from the texts and outside readings will be discussed. Each participant is expected to select a particular topic or issue found in the readings each week and be prepared to present a report and lead a class discussion on this issue. A brief written supplement to the oral reports are to be provided to the other participants in the class in order that they may collect a file on topics of discussion for the seminar.

There is a final research paper required of each student (about 30 pages in length) that is to focus on a topic or issue to be discussed during the term. An outline of the proposed paper is due during the fifth week of the term. At the end of the term each student will present to the class the results of their research. The following are examples of possible paper topics:

- Review theoretical trends and research methodologies that have developed the field of Comparative Education

- Review comparative trends within a world region or particular educational area (e.g., teacher training, curriculum, educational technology etc).

- Compare the relationship of education to social and economic change and development in two or more countries or geographic regions.

- Critically examine the role of education as an instrument of political and economic development

Other possible topics can be discussed with the instructor.

The course grade will be based on the quality of presentations of readings during seminar sessions (15%); participation in seminar discussions (15%); Term paper presentation and group presentation (20%); and the term paper (50%).

Week 1 : Introduction

Week 2 : Comparative Education: Theories and methodologies

Readings for week 2:

- Theories and Methods in Comparative Education, pp. 3-25, 115- 143

On Reserve:

- Comparative Education: Contemporary Issues and Trends, pp. 21-69

- Debates and Trends in Comparative Education

Week 3 : Current Issues and Challenges in Education

Readings for week 3:

- Theories and Methods in Comparative Education, pp. 87-115, 197- 225, 225-265

- Education in Comparative Perspective, pp. 5-31, 31-47

On Reserve:

- Economic Crisis and the Quality of Education

- Lessons of Cross National Comparison in Education (Keith Watson, Alternative Funding of Education Systems: Some lessons from Third World Experiments)

Week 4 : Education, the government and the economy

Readings for week 4:

On Reserve:

- Education and the State: From Adam Smith to Perestroika

- The Role of the State in Education

- Education in a period of Change and Adjustment: Some International Perspectives

- Decentralization of Education: Politics and Consensus

Week 5 : Latin America: Special issues and directions

Readings for week 5:

- Education in Comparative Perspective, pp.140-159

On Reserve:

- Democratization and Decentralization in Colombian Education

- The Political Sociology of Education and Development in Latin America

- Achieving Balance in Decentralization: A Case Study of Education Decentralization in Chile

Week 6 : Asia: Education and the economy

Readings for week 6:

- Education in Comparative Perspective, pp. 159-174

Readings on reserve:

- Innovations and Reforms in Schooling in Asia=s Developing Countries

- Educational Planning in Asia

- Center-State Relations in Financing Education in India

- Modernization without Westernization: Assessing the Chinese Educational Experience

Week 7 : Eastern Europe: Education reform and democratization

Readings for week 7:

On Reserve:

- Teacher Training in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic: Recent Developments

- Education and the Value Crisis in Central and Eastern Europe, pp. 3-27, 57-71, 71-87, and 89-107

Week 8 : Africa: Evaluation in the context of development policy

Readings for week 8:

- Education in Comparative Perspective, pp. 72-97

On Reserve:

- Primary Schooling in Developing Countries: The Unfinished Business

Week 9 : Education and the Growing Global Market

Readings for week 9:

- Education in Comparative Perspective, pp. 174-192

On Reserve:

- The Relevance of Higher Education to Development, pp. 50-57 and 66-70

- Privatization and Business Education Needs in the Czech Republic

- Structural Adjustment and Education: Adapting to a growing Global Market

- Educational Policy Planning and Globalization

Week 10 : Simulation exercise (Country Reports)

Week 11 : Student presentations : Group presentations

Week 12 : Student presentations on research topics

Week 13 : Student presentations on research topics

Week 14 : Wrap up session