(2011-08) Wolhuter, C. C.; O’Sullivan, M.; Anderson, E.; Wood, L.; Karras, K. G.; Mihova, M.; Torres, A.; Anangisye, William A. L.; Maarman, R. F.; Al-Harthi, Hamood K.; Thongthew, S.
The aim of this research was to determine what comparative education students expect from
comparative education courses. Students from nine countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa
and Latin America were surveyed. These countries were the United States of America, Ireland, Greece,
Bulgaria, Oman, Thailand, Tanzania, South Africa and Cuba. The results showed startling differences
regarding students’ perceptions of and motivations for studying comparative education. Their diverse
motivations, the study concludes, are linked to contextual factors. In conclusion the implications of
these findings for comparative education course curricula, for the conceptualization of the
significance of comparative education, and for the comparative education research agenda are
highlighted.