The Comparative Education Society of Hong Kong (CESHK) hosted its 35th Annual Conference at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) from November 22–24, 2024. This year’s conference was particularly significant, marking the 40th anniversary of HKU’s Faculty of Education and the 30th birthday of the Comparative Education Research Centre (CERC).
A major highlight of the conference took place on November 22, with a celebratory session honoring these milestones. The session featured keynote addresses by Prof. Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Prof. Mark Bray, UNESCO Chair in Comparative Education and a founding member of CERC.
Dean Yang Rui opened the session by showcasing the Faculty’s remarkable development and achievements over the past four decades while outlining its future directions, particularly in the field of comparative education. Following this, Prof. Mark Bray reflected on CERC’s journey from its establishment in 1984 to its current role as a prestigious center in comparative education. He highlighted major milestones, including the publication of seminal works, international collaborations, and contributions to educational policy and practice globally.
An exceptional moment in the session was the reunion of seven past and current CERC directors, including the current director, Prof. Jeremy Rappleye. Each director shared their personal experiences and contributions during their tenure, offering insights into CERC’s growth and influence in the field. The session was skillfully facilitated by Emily Wong and Tian Renxiang, CERC’s past and present secretaries, and attended by scholars and educators from across the globe.
The session was followed by other conference highlights and sessions, such as the film screening of National Exam on November 23, inspired by former CERC Director Prof. Nutsa Kobakhidze’s research on shadow education. Over three days, the conference brought together more than 250 participants from over 15 countries, presenting cutting-edge research across various aspects of comparative education.
As a special gesture, attendees of the CERC 30th Anniversary Celebration received commemorative souvenirs, including a CERC magnet, notebook, and a publication chronicling its history.
The CESHK 2024 conference not only celebrated past achievements but also set the stage for future collaborations and advancements in the field of comparative education. It was a memorable gathering, underscoring the impact of CERC and the Faculty of Education in fostering global educational research and dialogue.
Among CERC’s 50+ publications, the most popular is Comparative Education Research: Approaches and Methods, edited by Mark Bray, Bob Adamson and Mark Mason. The book has been published in two editions, with translations into Farsi, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, and Spanish (and Arabic on the way).
