Digital Commons Network^™

Editor's Notes And Front Matter, Suzanne Majhanovich

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Cosmopolitanism, Globalization And The Field Of Adolescent Literacy, Helen Harper, Thomas W. Bean, Judith Dunkerly

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

In this article we discuss the current nature and circumstances of cosmopolitanism and what it means to the field of adolescent literacy. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, cosmopolitanism is understood as: 1) the local experience or condition of globalization, what has been called ‘internal globalization,’ and, 2) as a disposition or sensibility that ensures productive and peaceful relations in light of globalization or any circumstance that creates dynamic and culturally diverse contexts. From a critical review of the key documents in the field, we argue that for many adolescents their lives and literacies now, and especially in the future, will be …

Learning In A Credit Crisis, Or A Crisis Of Credit? Microcredit Lending, The Grameen Bank, And Informal Learning, Robert Mcgray

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

Popular economic discourses have developed a lexicon which will often refer to economic downturns as a credit crisis. Kojin Karatani’s recent reworking of Marx’s analysis of the credit system however forces us to consider that credit itself may be the problem – a problem referred to here as the crisis of credit. This essay is a critical theoretical analysis of the way in which microcredit lending programs constrain informal learning so that people learn in a crisis of credit. After tracing the roots of microcredit to neoliberal gender reforms, I identify and critique three underlying justifications of the crisis of …

Understanding Chinese International Students At A Canadian University: Perspectives, Expectations, And Experiences, Zuochen Zhang, George Zhou

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The objective of this study was to understand perspectives, expectations, and experiences of Chinese international students studying in the graduate and undergraduate programs at a Canadian university, paying special attention to the challenges these students faced in the process of acculturation. Multiple data gathering techniques were used for the quantitative and qualitative data, including a survey questionnaire, individual interviews and focus group discussions. Findings related to the participants’ adjustment to the new environment include English language proficiency, previous education background, communication with other students, and understanding of the local culture. The study found that participants experienced various challenges in their …

General Agreement On Trade In Services And Higher Education In China, Xiaobin Li, Linbin Zhao

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The Chinese higher education system is the largest in the world. Having an understanding of the Chinese system helps to provide a better understanding of international education. This article discusses the commitments China has made under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), these commitments’ implications for Chinese higher education, and Chinese attitudes towards foreign education. It also discusses the recent development of international cooperation in Chinese higher education. Chinese are interested in learning from developed countries, the demand for higher education continues to grow in China, and most Chinese scholars believe internationalization is beneficial. Indications are Chinese higher …

Faculty Perceptions Of Chinese Graduate Students’ Communication Challenges In The Science And Engineering Disciplines, Jim Hu

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This paper reports the findings of in-depth interviews with six science and engineering faculty members at a major Canadian university regarding their experiences with and perceptions of Mainland Chinese ESL graduate students’ challenges in using English in the disciplines. Results suggest great cultural and linguistic challenges of the students; however, helpful guidance and interactive feedback-based conferencing could lead to student progress. Nevertheless, the faculty longed for English and technical writing courses for ESL graduate students. The faculty did not perceive plagiarism to be a major issue among Chinese ESL graduate students and adopted an educational approach toward sporadic inappropriate textual …

What’S Language Got To Do With It? An Exploration Into The Learning Environment Of Quebec’S Classes D’Accueil, Gabrielle L. Breton-Carbonneau, Ailie Cleghorn

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This article stems from an on-going qualitative study of the ‘environment’ of Montreal’s elementary level welcome classes for new immigrant students (classes d’accueil), including teachers’ language attitudes and actual language practices in the classroom. Since the official language of instruction in Quebec is French, the classe d’accueil provides a unique setting for exploring many issues: how teachers look upon the linguistic and cultural diversity of their learners; how teachers negotiate their way between potentially opposing tensions-- to integrate newly arrived children into Quebec, and, to reinforce Quebec’s distinct cultural and linguistic status. By drawing on socio-cultural theory of language learning, …

Location, Location, Location! Regional Variations In Social Support In The Canadian Arctic, Chantelle A. M. Richmond

RDC@Western Research Highlights

No abstract provided.

An Ethnically Diverse Workforce Plus Good Employee Participation Practices - A Winning Combination For Organizational Innovation, Yang Yang, Alison M. Konrad

RDC@Western Research Highlights

No abstract provided.

Fertility Behavior Of Immigrants In Canada: Converging Trends, Gebremariam Woldemicael, Beaujot Roderic

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Using data from the 2002 Ethnic Diversity Survey (EDS), this paper compares fertility behavior across four groups of generations: recent and long-term immigrants of 1st generation, plus second and third generations. Several important findings emerge from this study: First, consistent with previous studies, we have documented higher current fertility among recent immigrants, but childbearing is lowest in the second generation. Second, although cumulative fertility tends to be significantly higher among long-term immigrants than recent immigrants, it becomes more similar to that of second and successive generations after adjusting for socio-demographic composition. This suggests that it is not generation per se, …

Child And Young Adult Headed Households In The Context Of The Aids Epidemic In Zimbabwe, 1988-2006, Daniel Ciganda, Alain Gagnon, Eric Tenkorang

PSC Discussion Papers Series

The emergence of Child-Headed Households (CHH) and Young Adult Households (YAH) has largely been taken as an indicator of the erosion of the traditional safety nets in sub-Saharan countries and a direct consequence of the increasing number of orphans in the region. However, the initial evidence presented so far suggests that the process of formation of CHH and YAH is more complex than it appears to be. Using the four available waves of the Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys (1988, 1994, 1999, and 2005/2006) we find that the proportion of households with no adults have remained stable in the last …

Editor's Notes And Front Matter, Suzanne Majhanovich

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Different Paths, Same Destination: A Case Study Of The 2002 Amendment To The Education Act For Chinese Minorities In Malaysia, Charissa Soek Yee Chan

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This article describes the effects and implications of the 2002 Amendment to the Education Act for the ethnic Chinese community, through exploring the challenges that the policy pose for Chinese school and education, as well as investigating the responses of the different stakeholders in Chinese community toward the change in policy. A case study approach was adopted for this study. Surveys (of students and parents), discussions with educators, and document analysis of textbooks and newspapers were carried out. Findings indicated that this policy had negative implications for mother tongue education in Malaysia, resulting in a huge overhaul of the Chinese …

Conscience Verte Et Éducation Au Burkina Faso « Nous Abandonnons Cela En Soulevant Les Seaux », Constance Lavoie, Amélie Baillargeon

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

Cet article examine l’intégration d’une « conscience verte » chez les élèves d’écoles primaires en fonction de deux types d’éducation : bilingue ou unilingue. Dix des anciens interviewés sont diplômés de l’école unilingue, dont le curriculum est né pendant la colonisation, tandis que les dix autres sont allés à l’école bilingue où savoirs, savoir-faire et langues autochtones font partie des activités scolaires. L’article présente les principales préoccupations environnementales de vingt villageois burkinabè sous les angles de la santé, du genre, de la politique et de l’éducation ainsi que les pistes de réflexion qu’ils proposent. À partir des témoignages des interviewés, …

The Language Learning Beliefs Of Self-Identified, Successful Learners Of Spanish As A Foreign Language, Maria A. Rodriguez Manzanaresis, Elizabeth Murphy

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This paper reports on a case study designed to gain insight into the language learning beliefs (LLBs) of eight, self-identified, successful learners of Spanish as a foreign language at a Canadian university. Data collection included an online asynchronous discussion and individual online interviews together with online administration of the Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI). Cross-case analyses of LLBs revealed that participants associated success with their ability to create bonds with the target culture. They emphasised developing language strategies as they relate to social purposes, placing emphasis on the social and affective component of learning Spanish, and on learning Spanish …

The Difficulties Of Learning English: Perceptions And Attitudes In Mexico, Colette Despagne

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The political, cultural, and economical relationship between the United States and Mexico is becoming more interdependent, and in general, Mexico’s participation in the world economy has increased the spread of English as a Second Language (ESL). English is ubiquitous in Mexico’s everyday life, as opposed to indigenous languages which are mostly hidden. The diffusion of English makes ESL learning mandatory if Mexicans want to aspire to a better social and economic life. Nevertheless, this contextual ‘imposition’ highly influences perceptions and attitudes Mexicans have towards the language. This in turn may create a strong barrier to the whole language learning process. …

Clarifying The Present State Of And Trends In Comparative Education From An Analysis Of Journal Articles, Charl C. Wolhuter

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The aim of this research is to explicate the present state of and developments within the field of Comparative Education, by means of an analysis of articles published in Canadian and International Education and the Comparative Education Review, two eminent journals in the field. The following aspects of articles published in the two journals, since their inception till the end of 2006, were analyzed:

• levels of analysis of articles
• number of units covered by articles
• geographical areas which articles deal with
• modes of education articles deal with and
• themes/topics focused on.

From the analysis, two features of the field became …

Book Review, Lucy Karanja

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Editor's Notes And Front Matter, Suzanne Majhanovich

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

No abstract provided.

Higher Education For Displaced Persons On The Thai-Burmese Border Areas, Aranya Kengkunchorn, Scott A. Hipsher

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The internationalization of education has been promoted as a method to prepare students for working and living in a world where national borders are becoming increasingly porous. Being prepared to work and live internationally is especially important for refugee students who do not at present have the option to return to their land of birth. Currently there are approximately 150,000 refugees who are living in closed camps communities along the Thai-Burmese border. Scenarios and recommendations concerning refugees attending international university programs in Thailand, bringing distance education programs into the camps, allowing refugees to attend Thai institutions of higher education in …

Cambodian National Education Policy: Global Wants Or/And Local Needs?, Kelly Crowley-Thorogood

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This paper will explore the problems associated with educational reconstruction in post-conflict Cambodia using a globalization theoretical perspective. The main questions to be addressed are: to what extent is globalization influencing education policy development in post-conflict Cambodia? and how have multinational financial agencies influenced the creation and adoption of national education policies in post-conflict Cambodian society? This paper will offer an introduction to globalization theory and provide a policy analysis of recent Cambodian and multinational policy documents and directives. The policy analysis will demonstrate that the agendas of several major multi-national organizations have influenced educational policy in Cambodia due to …

An Analysis Of The Students’ Perceptions Of Physics In Science Foundation Studies At The National University Of Laos, Phimpho Luangrath, Thongloon Vilaythong

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This paper presents the situation of physics teaching and learning at the Science Foundation Studies program at National University of Laos. The study has focused on the students’ understanding of concepts in mechanics, and the situation of the laboratory work activities. The research tools used in this study were the Force Concept Inventory test, interviews and questionnaires. The results show that in an international comparison the Lao students reveal a low level of conceptual understanding in mechanics. They also show no improvement in their conceptual understanding after teaching. The students have little experience of laboratory work. They had expectations that …

Learning To Become Lifelong Global Citizens, Soveacha Ros

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

This study examines transition practices of four international male graduate students from Cambodia pursuing social science degrees at Northern Illinois University (NIU). An interview guide was designed and grounded in three questions: (1) How do informants describe their academic and social experiences during their first year at NIU?; (2) What adaptation resources do they have at their disposal (i.e. on NIU campus, in DeKalb and neighbouring communities, social networks in Cambodia and America)? How do these resources help them to adjust; (3) How do they view themselves as international students at NIU? And, how does this view play a role …

Higher Education In Cambodia And The Atypical Example Of The History Department At Rupp 2, Henri Locard, Tha Leang Ang

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

In the past few years, Cambodia has seen an explosion in the growth of Higher Education that has been, to a large extent, absorbed by the dramatic rise in the number of private Universities. There are now some 106 campuses across the country. In the academic year, 2007-8, there were 110,090 bachelor degree students enrolled, among which 46,395 were in public Universities and 63,695 in private ones, according to Ministry of Education figures. There were also 15,802 Associate Degree students and 11,209 post –graduate students (over twice the number of the previous year).The vast majority of students - even in …

More Equal Than Others? `Fundamental Causes' Of Health Disparities In Canada And The United States, Andrea Willson

RDC@Western Research Highlights

No abstract provided.

Conditions De Vie Durant L’Enfance Et Longévité: Évaluation D’Une Base De Données Créée À Partir Du Recensement Canadien De 1901 Et De L’État Civil Québécois, Laurence Pilon-Marien, Alain Gagnon, Bertrand Desjardins, Robert Bourbeau

PSC Discussion Papers Series

Depuis longtemps déjà, certains chercheurs soupçonnent un possible effet à long terme des conditions de vie vécues dans l’enfance sur la santé et la mortalité aux âges subséquents. Cette niche n’ayant pas été explorée pour la population canadienne, nous avons mis sur pied un projet visant le jumelage du recensement canadien de 1901 et des actes de décès de l’état civil québécois dans le but d'établir l’âge au décès d’enfants sur lesquels il existait des informations socio-économiques. Le but de la présente contribution est de tester la validité des données collectées en les comparant avec des tables de mortalité calculées …

Once Were Farmers: Occupation, Social Mobility, And Mortality During Industrialization In Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec 1840-1971, Alain Gagnon, Marc Tremblay, Hélène Vézina, Jamie A. Seabrook

PSC Discussion Papers Series

We study men’s adult mortality and longevity by socio-occupational status during industrialization in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. Data were extracted from the BALSAC database (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi), which comprehensively traces the demographic history of the region since the beginning of the French Canadian settlement in 1840 up to the early 1970s. Using five occupational classes and controlling for year, age at marriage, urbanrural residence, and literacy, we found no evidence for the emergence of socioeconomic differentials in mortality. At least until the early 1970’s, mortality in the region appears to be driven by ‘occupational risk’ rather than ‘fundamental social causes’.