On May 19, CERC hosted a seminar titled “Methodological Challenges in Researching the ‘International’ in Education and Area Studies.” The session was led by Professor Kenneth King, Emeritus Professor of International and Comparative Education at the University of Edinburgh, and attracted 47 participants both online and in person.

In this engaging and thought-provoking talk, Professor King critically examined dominant approaches to research in international and comparative education. He proposed alternative perspectives that highlight the value of documentary studies, everyday experiences, counter-intuitive thinking, decolonising methodologies, and the role of serendipity in shaping research practices.

The seminar also addressed key structural challenges in the field, such as the influence of consultancy-driven agendas, the persistent imbalance in North–South research collaborations, and the constraints posed by academic publishing and research locations.

This event built on themes from Professor King’s 2019 book, Education, Skills and International Cooperation: Comparative and Historical Perspectives, published by CERC following his appointment as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Hong Kong. Copies of the book were made available at a special discounted price during the event.

 CERC continues to provide a vital platform for critical dialogue and reflection on pressing issues in the field of comparative education.