Comparative and International Higher Education

There is a general reading requirement, but there is also flexibility regarding choices for concentration by the student. For the present semester, the regions of the world to be studied include Britain, Spain, USA, Mexico, India, Africa. The two European countries provide the frame works for the transfer of the idea an structure if higher to most parts of the idea and structure of higher education to most parts of the New World and non-Western countries. This process known as transplantation may be classified inder three broad categories: (1) those under the ageis of king and church such as in Latin America; (2) those organized by emigrants, such as the New England states of the United States; (3) and those inspired by governments - either European colonial powers or the national governments themselves, such as the British, French, or Belgian governments for their respective Asian, African and Middle East colonies on one hand and Japan in Asia and Ethiopia in Africa on the other for their respective societies. For instance transplantations began in l55l with the founding of universities in Mexico and Peru by the Spanish King other time. It still continues. Yet once transplanted institutions of higher learning assume different characteristics unique to their own niche, e.g. the African systems of higher education are now very different from British and German ancestors. So are Nigerian, Japanese, or other universities. The laws governing the transplantation, adaptation and evolution of institutions of higher learning will be one of the topics that will be examined during the term

There is a common core of reading materials required of all members of the class. This include textbooks, journal articles, reports and the like. In addition, each member of the class will pursue a special project based on a given region or country that has special, specific significance for that person in terms of possible line of inquiry for a doctoral thesis, and the like. The choice for the latter will be based on the availability of sufficient literature, the amount of time it may take to address the topic adequately within the available time, and similar constraints and possibilities. The instructor will provide suggestions and advice in the selection of such topics. The research paper may be based on empirical investigation or historical analysis; from such investigation will result a paper of at least twenty typed pages in length of publishable quality. The exercise of developing such a paper will present opportunity to the student to demonstrate mastery of scholarly requirements, including the techniques and fluency of thoughts, and precession of argument. When adequately developed, the paper will be presented in class for discussion and correction. The final paper will form a most important part of the evaluation for the course.

Films, slides, and guest speakers will be utilized from time to time as these become available.

To a larger extent what the student will get out of the course is in direct proportion to what he/she is willing to invest in it. You are urged to read widely, to think reflectively, and enter into informed dialogues in class. The instructor assignees high value to reflective thinking, originality and inquisitiveness.