Leadership and Policy in Education

About Us

The Comparative and International Education for Development research group specialises in the use of data in comparative research that directly informs quality development of the school system as a whole. Our research group focusses on advancing knowledge in relation to how sustainable school improvement is achieved by key stakeholders within diverse education communities and systems, including schools and school systems.

Specifically, our research group:

develops an empirical research base for sustainable improvement drawn from school communities, systemic policies, and program performance;
conducts research to enhance the alignment of the perspectives and practices of stakeholders at each level of the system (classroom, school, education administration, government department) in terms of the nature and factors that influence school improvement; and
provides empirical databases and research knowledge that chart the multilevel contexts of student learning (classroom, school, system) from international and comparative perspectives.

Key Research Themes

Specifically, our research group:

develops an empirical research base for sustainable improvement drawn from school communities, systemic policies, and program performance;
conducts research to enhance the alignment of the perspectives and practices of stakeholders at each level of the system (classroom, school, education administration, government department) in terms of the nature and factors that influence school improvement; and
provides empirical databases and research knowledge that chart the multilevel contexts of student learning (classroom, school, system) from international and comparative perspectives.

Educational Leadership

This research program explores educational leadership as an essential catalyst in shaping school improvement and innovation across various contexts. It focusses on developing a better understanding of how educational leaders exercise leadership practices, and how leadership impacts on school improvement.

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Professional Learning Community

This research explores global phenomena and perspectives of professional learning communities (PLCs). Through a sociocultural and comparative study lens, we endeavour to provide nuanced understandings of the experiences of developing and implementing PLCs and to provide insights around how systems empower schools and optimise their school-improvement potential.

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Cross-Cultural or Comparative Studies

This research explores international, cross-cultural and cross-national perspectives of educational organisations and communities. Through a comparative study lens, we endeavour better to understand sociological, cultural, historical, and institutional impacts on school change and development in an increasingly globalised world.

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International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools

As of March 2022, there are 5,511 IB schools around the world. Despite the fast growth of IB schools over the last two decades, issues around IB school leadership, the professional characteristics of IB teachers, and IB students’ learning outcomes are all still under-researched. The CIED group has investigated those research areas.

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