MULTI-STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING AND TEACHING OF COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION (CIE) DURING GLOBAL EMERGENCIES AND UNCERTAINTIES

Higher education (HE) is facing epistemic and pedagogical challenges owing to the uncertainties in global political economy and emergencies including COVID-19. In the UK, International/Global Education, International Development and Education, Comparative Education as courses or modules are provided in many higher education institutions (HEIs). During the pandemic, the student learning experience in this field has been compromised by various restrictions. In particular, aspects such as fieldwork, placement and exchange activities that were essential in CIE have been significantly affected. The knowledge which was mainly accumulated in-person has increasingly become digitalised. The course structure and teaching materials have had to be updated – for instance, contents on the economic contraction and social inequalities triggered by the pandemic and the consequences in the pursuit of the education targets.  The situation has also provided new opportunities for L&T innovations within CIE such as increasing online participation by global speakers, virtual placements, and enhanced secondary research methods. It is a time for us to rethink: what are the knowledge frameworks and the way to ‘know’ in CIE today?  These adaptations in L&T have had to take place quickly during the pandemic. This has required effective communications among different sectors in every HEI. Therefore, this forum series seeks to capture the experiences of various stakeholders including students, lecturers, programme leaders, researchers, and admission and placement officers. We will also invite participants from global North and South.