EXPLORING NEW GROWTH AREAS:
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRE FOR
COMPARATIVE EDUCATION AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
By
DR. Lewis Ngesu
Chairman and Senior Lecturer
Department of Educational Foundations
A paper presented at CEES Retreat held
at ALBA Hotel Meru (25th-28th June
2014).
What is CE
• Many scholars in Comparative Education do
not seem to agree on a single definition of CE
• However there is a general consensus that a
good definition of the comparative discipline
should contain at least the elements of:
content;
Methodology; and
Purpose of the study.
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Cont
Hans Nicholas , (1958)
• Defines CE as a step-by-step study of different
and often contrasting educational systems
with a view of understandings their
differences and similarities
E.H. Epstein, (1995)
Defines comparative education as a field of
study that applies historical, philosophical and
social science theories and methods to
international problems in education.
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Def. cont
Vernon Mallinson, (1975)
Defines as the analytical study of factors that
influence the development of education in
historical and comparative perspectives.
 In a nutshell CE is the analysis of educational
systems and problems of social, political,
economic, cultural, ideological and other
contents in order to understand the factors
underlying similarities and differences in
education in various countries
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Aims of CE and International
studies
 To provide a picture or profile
of the education systems in
various countries or regions.
 To enable one come up with a
global
description
and
classification of education in
various parts of the world.
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Aims cont.
 To distinguish the fundamental elements
of educational persistence and change and
relate these with philosophical laws.
To facilitate practical reform and planned
development of the school system, that is,
improvement of education at home. In order
to achieve this aim one requires to establish
the correlation of aims, customs, social
norms and the education system
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Aims Cont.
To enable one have a greater understanding
of the wider educational process
To promote the spirit of international
understanding and co-operation among those
who study it, by promoting friendship,
understanding other people’s points of view
and appreciate other people’s cultures

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The need for establishment of the
centre for CE and Int. Studies at
CEES
Why should we think of a Centre for
CE and International Studies at
CEES?
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Objectives
To carry on business as trainers and
educational consultants, offer specialist
comparative education human resource
advisory services such as personnel
policy development, curriculum
development and evaluation,
institutional relations etc
.
•
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Objectives Cont.

To carry on business as research consultants,
analysts of education problems and developers of
research tools, baseline survey, social science from
a global perspective
 To carry on business as trainers in education,
management, social science,
information
technology etc.
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Benefits of establishing a centre for
CE & IS
 The centre may be used for research,
teaching and private study purposes.
 Internalization of international education as
the next theme which gives rise to a new
focus of both higher education policy and
higher education resources.
To improve education at home
 By studying other peoples systems of education we get to develop a better
perspective of our own education system.
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 Increased visibility of the UON in terms of rich
files, backlinking, webometric ranking etc
Bench marking (Active &collaborative
learning)
This benchmark includes asking questions in
class, contributing to class discussion, making
class presentation, working with peers during
and outside the class.
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Opportunities of the proposed
Centre for Comparative Education
&IS
 Goodwill from the Principal & CMB -CEES
 Committed members of staff at CEES who can
spare time to various activities in the proposed
centre
 Availability of grant proposal writers who have
experience in writing proposals
 Availability of specialists in CE
 Availability of offices
 Course units linked to thematic area
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Conclusion
 We have a long history and rich history of
CE at the CEES dating back to 1987
 Much teaching and research work
continues to take place.
 The establishment of the proposed centre
for CE and IS will help students,
stakeholders, lectures etc to learn about
history, methods and theories related to the
field of CE &IS
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Cont.
Through the centre educationist will explore
current international education issues, policies
and trends through comparison and critical
lenses.
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THE END
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
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