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This paper, which builds upon research linked to the development of sustainable study abroad programs in emerging nations, focuses on key challenges to true partnerships between emerging and established universities. It begins with an analysis of challenges which may occur when attempting to develop an equitable partnership based on joint grants and/or research projects. It also includes a discussion of struggles experienced by academic staff who desire a more equitable relationship that will enhance the missions of both institutions. The paper will then analyze one particular partnership between two universities (the University of Central Florida, USA, and the University of Botswana) during study abroad programs funded by the Fulbright-Hays Groups Project Abroad (2011) and the U.S. State Department (2012- 2015). An analysis of this partnership is particularly relevant as it focuses on the initial steps, dialogues, perspectives and actions of both institutions as they worked through a host of preconceived notions on neocolonialism and the challenges of successfully operating by another's "rules of engagement" within a dynamic geopolitical platform. [For the complete Volume 14, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568088.]

In this paper the author discusses how 21st century education researchers could and in his opinion, should approach the scientific description of the various entities that they might encounter. The word "entities" in pedagogical context refers to phenomena and structures such as "an education system", "education", "curriculum" or "motivation". For example, the entity, "an education system," consists of various elements such as schools, management structures, financing structures, support structures, curriculum and curriculum planning, physical facilities, learners, educators, community support, and many more. It could be said that it is relatively easy to describe these different elements of the education system and show how they all fit together to form an education system as a total structure. In this paper the author argues, however, that such a description would be scientifically indefensible for the mere fact that, in view of current scientific approaches, the description could be seen as simplistic and reductionistic. The paper begins with a brief outline of three basic epistemological approaches. This outline is then used as the basis for further discussion of how one could conduct research into pedagogical/educational structures in a manner that would circumvent simplistic and reductionistic descriptions. [For the complete Volume 13, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568595.]

In education, inclusion is a process of mutual respect for differences of every student and his/her needs, in which the focus is placed on the student. The education system, on the other hand, should deal with the challenges that all students face, including the special educational needs students. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of educational inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream school system and to offer strategies or more precisely guidelines for teachers working with them. Research and practice in special education and inclusion of students with disabilities in the mainstream school system and social life are one of the most important priorities of Policy of the Department of Education and Science in every country in the world. So in this paper we have presented attitudes and experiences about special education reforms strategies in educational system. Research methods are based on documents studies and cases studies about changes in social and educational policies for students with disabilities and special educational needs who are included in primary and secondary school. Conclusions are that students with disabilities and special needs should enjoy the same access as their non-disabled peers. There is growing evidence that students with disabilities learn better when they are allowed to go to a public school within their neighborhood. In this frame, school societies try to support full participation of students with disabilities in areas of their lives on equal terms, conditions, social justice and basic human rights. [For the complete Volume 13, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568595.]

The aim of the study is to examine how multiculturalism and peace studies have been viewed in Brazilian and North American literature as gleaned both from Brazilian research studies and articles presented at Peace Education Special Interest Group (SIG) in American Education Research Association (AERA), within the scope of 2010-2014, which concludes that multiculturalism and peace studies may offer groundbreaking venues to promote education provision to every one, civilian and military students together with reforms in higher education. [For the complete Volume 14, Number 1 proceedings, see ED568088.]

As a starting point, this paper raises various questions to explain the teaching conditions that exist in rural communities and the learning conditions faced by children assigned to the rural community education mode. Equity and competitiveness are the conceptual axis used in the descriptive construction a documentary analysis and my personal experience in Rural Communitarian Educational programs are the methodological strategies used to present this work. [For complete volume, see ED567118.]

Modern educators consider that the acquiring of important-for-life competencies can give an individual the opportunities to orient in a modern society, informational space, changing development of labour and post-graduation education. Competency-based approach became a new conceptual orientation of schools in foreign countries and causes a number of discussions in international and national levels of different countries. [For complete volume, see ED567118.]

This study investigated the mentoring of academics for leadership and management in higher education institutions through the application of contextual intelligence. Experts and professionals generally agree that effective institutional leadership and management mentorship, using contextual knowledge, is crucial for achieving institutional success. The paper aims to illustrate the significance of mentoring institutional leaders and managers using contextual intelligence skills. The dearth of literature on mentoring academics using contextual intelligence in South Africa might be addressed through mentoring, as this practice poses a significant obstacle. The challenges of applying contextual intelligence in mentoring academics are highlighted with a focus on four key areas: mentoring, leadership and management, contextual intelligence, and achieving organisational success. Despite their relatively tiny proportion within the overall framework, these elements exert influence over all aspects of the institution s activities. While tackling each impact individually may result in success, the continuous emergence of new factors makes it unlikely for this method to maintain improvement. The findings illustrate that the perception of improvement is determined by a dynamic and intricate setting. The paper plays a vital role in considering contextual dynamics when mentoring for contextual intelligence. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

This paper examines the problem of modernization of the national education model, based on the program documents "Mangilik El" and "Rukhani Zhangyru," the project "New humanitarian knowledge: 100 new textbooks in the Kazakh language," "Daryn" programs, etc., aimed at the spiritual development of the nation. One of the ways to internationalize education in Kazakhstan is the participation in "QS World University Rankings," which highlights the top five universities: Asfandiyarov Kazakh National Medical University, Satbayev University, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Gumilev Eurasian National University, and Nazarbayev University. In addition to the five universities described, nine more, highlighted in the QS subject rankings, deserve attention. Among these universities is Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, which implements educational programs in teaching professions developed jointly with foreign partners. The review also covers the following path of modernization of education in Kazakhstan, which takes place in preschool and school education. Since 2009, Kazakhstan has been actively participating in international PISA studies, the results of which have contributed to the implementation of important educational initiatives implemented in the country. The study of such experience contributed to the design of a scientific study on the topic "Theory and technology of a comprehensive psychological and pedagogical assessment of the developing potential of the school s educational environment using the international SAKERS (modified version)." The quality of school life and educational outcomes of students directly depend on the comfort of the school educational environment, in addition, the problem is aggravated by the risks and threats of globalization and changes in the modern world. The international SACERS (School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale) tool allows for the assessment and measurement of the educational environment according to 7 criteria: the internal space and furniture of the school; health and safety; active activity and pastime; interaction; educational process; staff development; special needs for students with disabilities. At this stage, according to the project on measuring the educational environment using international scales, SAKERS (this term is used in Kazakhstan for SACERS) is conducted in 7 Kazakhstani schools, different in structure and location. The paper ends with strategies for solving problems regarding the orientation of the educational system of Kazakhstan to international cooperation. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

Private tutoring has become a pervasive phenomenon in Bangladesh, with significant implications for educational equity and quality. This paper examines the policy landscape surrounding private tutoring and proposes comprehensive strategies to mitigate its adverse effects on the education system. Through a systematic review of existing literature and policy documents, this study elucidates the multifaceted challenges posed by private tutoring, including exacerbating educational inequalities, compromising teacher accountability, and perpetuating a two-tiered education system. Drawing on insights from international experiences and stakeholder consultations, the paper presents a framework for policy interventions tailored to the context of Bangladesh. These interventions encompass regulatory measures, teacher training and capacity-building initiatives, curriculum reforms, and community engagement strategies. Furthermore, the paper explores the potential synergies between formal schooling and supplementary tutoring services to harness the benefits of private tutoring while addressing its negative externalities. By illuminating the complex dynamics surrounding private tutoring and offering evidence-based policy recommendations, this research aims to catalyze informed dialogue and action among policymakers, educators, and civil society stakeholders to foster a more equitable and inclusive education system in Bangladesh. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

Sub-Saharan African societies had contacts with China that stretch back to the early days of the Silk Road where the two regions facilitated trade relations and exchanged technology and ideas. Beginning in the 1950s China formalized relations with SSA based on South-South cooperation. At the end of the Cold War, China intensified its relations with SSA within the frameworks of "One Belt one Road" in Africa and the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The China-Africa relations have scored benefits in the areas of promoting infrastructural development, strong investments in SSA, trade links between the two regions, less expensive technical assistance for nations in SSA, cultural exchanges, and student scholarships. Nonetheless, the relations raise complicated issues around trade where China is flooding markets in SSA with inferior goods, acquisition of resources, Chinese mining companies causing environmental destruction in many countries in SSA, and the Chinese government's debt trapping of many sub-Saharan African nations. Many suspect that China is surreptitiously forging a relationship with SSA that may help it assert its "trusteeship" over sub-Saharan Africa's political, economic, and development processes. The paper is developed within these broader contexts to examine the paradoxes and contradictions of the China-sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) relations and their potential impacts on education policy and practice in the region. The paper focuses on SSA, a region that constitutes forty-eight of the fifty-four countries of the African continent. This sociohistorical paper is part of my ongoing study to examine the impacts of external forces' economic and political relations on education policy and practice in the SSA and the potential of the relations to destabilize the epistemological processes of sub-Saharan African societies. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

Homeschooling, as a controversial educational practice, raises many questions about its outcomes, which still remain unanswered. The homeschooling population has been growing over the past years, as has interest in this educational paradigm. The increased accessibility and use of emerging information technologies also hold significance in facilitating access to knowledge and contributing to the expansion of this educational trend. In this context, numerous families contemplate homeschooling for several reasons. Yet, the decision to homeschool or not their children is often difficult, as the outcomes are not predictable. Researchers have explored the academic achievements of homeschooling; however, a more significant question remains unanswered: Are homeschoolers happy? This paper aims to provide insight into homeschoolers' perceptions of this matter. Research findings on the life satisfaction of homeschoolers presented here were based on the anonymous responses of an online survey collected between July 2022 and July 2023 from 33 current or former homeschoolers from five countries. This study used the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to evaluate the well-being of homeschooled individuals who self-assessed their educational experience as well. The paper also examines the advantages and disadvantages of the educational practice as perceived by homeschoolers themselves in an attempt to provide a picture of the satisfaction of homeschoolers with their educational journey. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The transition plan for learners with learning disabilities is a critical aspect that involves various key components. This paper focuses on the importance of transition planning in facilitating the successful integration of such learners into a special class, highlighting the benefits of family, school, and community partnerships. The plan establishes clear goals and objectives that align with the learner s aspirations and abilities, encompassing academic achievements, social integration, skill development, and career exploration. Moreover, the plan identifies specific strategies and interventions to address potential barriers and challenges during the transition process. The paper draws on research conducted in a school situated in Johannesburg South and a longitudinal research program conducted at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin. Utilizing the insights gained from these studies, the paper proposes an informal Transition Support Training model. This model emphasizes the assessment of learner strengths, challenges, and needs, allowing educators and support teams to construct an Individualized Education Transition Plan that optimally supports learners with learning disabilities throughout their transitional journey into a special class. By delivering the transition plan effectively, educators and support staff can facilitate a smooth transition for the learner's well-being and set the stage for their success in the new educational setting. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The English language is the most widely-spoken language in the world. This fact deserves serious consideration for educators at all levels of the education system, but more so for those who are tasked with the teaching of English to learners whose Mother Tongue is not English. Globalisation, the internationalisation of education and migratory trends are largely responsible for narrowing the interconnection of world peoples via various means. For this very reason, English language pedagogical issues exist in multilingual countries as well as in those countries that have a migrant multilingual population. This paper explores the value of, and benefits to be gained, from employing tailor-made pedagogical approaches in English language teaching. It contends that the all-embracing educational landscape necessitates a parallel move with the fast-changing times. It also explains why and how pedagogical spaces should be widened and narrowed. The discussion draws from a wide literature base, research findings and personal experiences, but zeros in on theoretical frameworks such as constructivism, social constructivism and scaffolding. The paper concludes with the assertion that the widening and narrowing of pedagogical approaches have become an imperative in an ever-changing world. This is especially pertinent for countries that are concerned with the development of productive and participating citizens, which in turn stimulates and produces national development. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

This paper investigates the challenges, mitigation strategies and transformative approaches in educational programme delivery in South African education amidst the adverse influence of the pandemic in schools' Further Education and Training phase with a focus on the integration of technology-enhanced effective teaching and learning; using data obtained from interviews of a data-rich sample of the school management team and teachers of five schools. The noteworthy contribution of this paper to knowledge in the context of Comparative and International Education pertains to transformative strategies for technology-enhanced programme delivery in education. This paper's final objective is to link the explored findings of challenges, trends and innovations in the South African education system to the theme of this book focusing on the different worlds common education challenges. Furthermore, the findings emphasised the need for innovation and transformation toward a technology-enhanced education environment, especially in the Fifth Industrial Revolution milieu. In addition, this paper presented noteworthy recommendations for educational stakeholders and future research. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

While research on the impact of a Eurocentric curriculum has often focused on marginalized populations in developing nations, it is paramount that scholars also examine the impact of this curriculum on students in the Global North. To this end, this paper begins by first defining and then critiquing what is often referred to as the "Eurocentric curriculum", and how standard Eurocentric content, such as Eurocentric mathematics and its pedagogical practices may alienate learners from their families, societies, and cultures. It will then suggest an alternative approach, "Ethno-mathematics" introduced by D'Ambrosio (1985), and will apply this concept to educational outcomes in both South Africa and the USA. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of how these cultural imbalances within a school's curriculum, if not corrected, may negatively impact the academic success of all students, particularly the marginalized. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The rational for this research paper is to examine the challenges faced by international students with focus on Nigerian students embracing the British education system and impact on their motivation and academic performance. The paper presents a critical overview in relation to the barriers faced by Nigerian students in terms of obtaining and maintaining their visas, seeking employment, cultural integration, and access to education and how these challenges impact on their motivation and academic performance. The study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative research methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by Nigerian students in regard to studying in the UK and keeping up to visa requirements with limited working hours given to study. To ascertain the degree of impact, a primary data was carried out to hear from few of the students. Findings of research shows that majority of the Nigerian students that came to study in the UK had high expectations with the hope that coming to study and work in the UK was the best option to escape from the problem of high unemployment and hardship faced back in their home countries. Some expressed the disappointments on how they struggled to find accommodation with family and not sure if coming to the UK was worth the money, they paid to facilitate their study visa. The most disappointed expectations were the cost of living and not being able to get the twenty hours jobs allowed to work while studying to help them with excessive cost of living. Some felt that more support is needed to help international students in their studies in the UK considering the high fees paid to gain British education. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The aim of this paper is to reflect on what the changing context brought about by the Pandemic mean and can mean for the repositioning and reinvigoration of Comparative and International Education in 2023. The paper commences with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Incheon Declaration, as the vision humanity has set for itself for 2030. The paper then maps out the gap between the reality of education globally in 2015, when the goals were set, and the vision for 2030. The intervention of the COVID-19 Pandemic increased that gap. This paper argues that at the same time the Pandemic brought with it an opportunity to redesign education in the world, benefitting from the opportunities offered by technology. The paper further argues that in effecting such a redesign of education in the world, the scholarly field of Comparative and International Education has a pivotal role to play to -- to connect to the theme of this book and of the conference of which this volume is the proceedings of papers presented -- to use education experiences of the Pandemic and post-Pandemic times, to learn to not only recover education to its pre-Pandemic state, but to ensure the recovery has enough momentum to move beyond the pre-Pandemic level, surging towards the goals set for 2030, i.e. building new better education systems. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

Whilst the starting point is the impact of the pandemic the overall aim of the paper is to advance the case for the introduction of a transdisciplinary approach to learning. The justification for adopting this radical method is to deliver specific graduate outcomes in line with the 10 job skills for 2025 identified by the World Economic Forum. More specifically to promote creative and critical thinking amongst undergraduates. If the integration of skills is viewed as a key component of higher education the question is how they can be best delivered. A key point is to develop student self awareness of the limitations to their learning to introduce critical reflection. The possibility of students being 'pulled up short' and experiencing self-realisation is examined and how this may contribute to the advancement of their studies and the delivery of specific skills. Finally, the paper considers the idea of transdisciplinary teaching and learning and differentiates transdisciplinary ideas from other forms of crossing disciplinary boundaries. It explores the stated advantages, in terms of skills development, for adopting this type of approach noting the challenges it involves for both educators and students. It concludes that although there exist realistic challenges to transdisciplinary learning it is a strategy that promises significant outcomes. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

There exists a power asymmetry between instructors and students in the physical classroom and other learning spaces which symbolizes the distribution of power in social spaces. Because of the structured power asymmetry in most learning spaces, promoting effective classroom teaching sometimes requires instructors to replace existing hierarchical power relations and with fluid, organic, and transgressive classroom dynamics in their relationships with their students. This approach has the potential to empower students to become their own agency for interrogating the assumptions and ideologies that they bring to the classroom. This paper outlines the instructional strategies that I incorporate in my "nonwestern" course that aims to introduce students in my university to the sub-Saharan African region. The course uses the interdisciplinary approach to explore the complicated ways history and social changes (including globalization) intersect to shape education reforms, and economic and social development in sub-Saharan Africa. Students bring a plethora of assumptions about sub-Saharan "Africa" to this course and my goal as an instructor is to help students interrogate their own assumptions and deconstruct the myths and distortions about the "Africa" in a broader term. The paper outlines the way I deliberately select course materials, and sequence course contents and themes to scaffold and promote incremental knowledge about the region for students during the semester. Furthermore, the paper outlines the strategies that help nudge students' critical thinking and restructure the power relations in the classroom. While these strategies may not automatically change students' assumptions about sub-Saharan "Africa", they nonetheless become opportunities for my students and I to reposition for effective discussions about the region with the goal to interrogating students' prior assumptions and views about the region. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

The comparative research paper explores the use and risks of social media in South African, USA and European schools. It discusses the potential challenges that schools, educators and learners may face such as cyberbullying, sexting, identity theft, fraud, catphishing, cybercrimes, excessive online presence, and addiction to social media. The paper reports on the findings of a phenomenological study and purposive survey among school principals and educators in South African schools. The paper highlights the advantages of applying social media in the classroom, and provides recommendations for schools, educators, parents and principals to manage the use of social media in the education environment. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

The role of parents in the education of their children is a factor which has been acknowledged as one of the contributors to learners' success in schools. In addition, the nature of parental involvement and the benefits thereof, have been sufficiently treated in the corpus on school improvement. The purpose of this paper is to probe the support that schools, through their School Management Teams (SMTs), provide to parents to enable them to be closely involved in their children's education. Seen through the lens of Epstein's model, parental involvement is conceptualized and related to school environments in diverse South African contexts. The model of parental involvement reveals six areas of involvement, namely, parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making and collaborating with the community. Accordingly, parental involvement as defined by Epstein and the inherent support that schools should provide to parents, form the thesis of this paper. The paper concludes with a recommendation of implementing proactive strategies of parental involvement in education. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This paper argues that school leaders and managers are being forced to abandon their educational purpose and that leadership and management activities of school leaders are now purposed towards satisfying the needs of a managerialist elite. As a result, the best interests of learners/ students are placed secondary to the interests of the bureaucrats. The paper conceptualises educational leadership and educational management and the relationship between these two actions is explained. Thereafter, managerialism is defined and its expansion to an ideology is explained. Examples are provided of how managerialism manifests itself in education systems. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

Struggles for educational equity in the United States (US) and South Africa (SA), particularly with regard to race, class, and ethnicity, remain significant and have become even more critical during and following the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. Many scholars have focused on the daily struggles of school-aged children, indicating that millions in each nation are homeless, food insecure, and without health care. Moreover, schools often serve critical social reproduction functions in addition to their primary role of advancing learning by providing feeding schemes, computers and internet connectivity, and, in many cases, essential childcare for workers. Since 2020, the pandemic and lockdowns negatively impacted the education delivery system in both countries by enhancing the socio-economic and digital divides. Both countries struggled to provide equitable access to quality education for all children, regardless of their socio-economic status (SES) or geographic location. Through a comparative lens, we analyze attempts by the US and SA to address racial and economic divides over the past decades, and particularly during the pandemic and its disruptions, to better understand the mechanisms education systems used to address stakeholder inequalities. After a brief overview of the historical paths to greater social and economic equality made by both nations the paper explores the significant roles that race, ethnicity, and SES continue to play in determining access to quality education, especially during times of disruptions such as the recent pandemic. It also asks if the economic divide has become the more powerful and consistent factor determining access to well-resourced schools. The paper concludes by asking if patterns of historical racial and ethnic inequalities are now being replaced by an even greater economic divide that continues to provide patterns of unequitable education for children based on their race, ethnicity, SES, and access to supportive resources. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This paper focuses on the experience, reflections, and best practices related to training adult education researchers in an adult learning and leadership doctoral program at a Research I institution in the United States. We discuss embedding technology into the curriculum, fostering connections, and supporting the development of self-directedness as key elements of an effective online doctoral program. The paper offers suggestions applicable to other online, research-intensive programs catering to the working learner population. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

Technological revolution has continued to permeate all aspects of society. Its roles and impacts cannot therefore be overemphasized. Nevertheless, the roles of technology in law practice and law education in Nigeria have not received considerate research attention. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap by examining law practice and education in the context of the roles technology plays. The doctrinal research method was adopted. The paper found that Section 1 of the Act established the Council of Legal Education and vests it with the responsibility for the legal education of persons seeking to become members of the legal profession. The role of technology in law practice includes documentation of client's instructions, case management, file management, personnel data management and the documentation of accounts of the law firm, research, filing of court processes and virtual court sittings. Similarly, technology plays important roles in law education including research and teaching aids. However, the integration of technology faces several challenges such as inadequate regulatory framework, inadequate infrastructure, lack of funds and technological illiteracy. The paper concluded that addressing the challenges will be critical to enhancing and expanding the roles of technology in law practice and education and that without a strategic long term approach, the roles of technology in law practice and education in Nigeria will remain very insignificant and slow to sustainable growth. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This paper investigates the transition planning for youth with disabilities living in foster care. Statutory regulations in South Africa contend that foster care lapses when young people reach the age of 18. It is however not certain how many of them are ready to navigate into an adult and independent lifestyle. This paper is concerned with the question on: "How is the transition for youth with disabilities facilitated towards adulthood?" Two foster homes catering for orphans, abused and children with disabilities were purposefully selected. Semi structured interviews were conducted with six caregivers. Findings revealed that there was no planning in place for these youth who are about to exit the foster care. Furthermore, these youths are not even aware that they will have to live independently after the age of 18 years. In conclusion, this paper suggests collaboration among the multi stakeholders, policymakers, and practitioners at all levels to best prepare youth with disabilities aging out of foster care for life beyond care and what lies ahead of them. A supportive environment can provide the tools and resources that youth with disabilities need as they prepare for their transition 'journey' and to make a smooth landing at their destination of choice. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This paper presents the use of the time-on-task analysis (TOTA) diagnostic model as an instrument to improve the efficient management of allocated academic time in schools and focuses on the descriptive analytics produced by the TOTA model. The model aims to analyse how time is spent during the school day to enable school leaders, managers, and teachers to identify opportunities for improving teaching and learning 'uptime' in their schools and classrooms. The theoretical underpinning of the TOTA model is overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), a powerful analytical productivity metric used widely in manufacturing, and thus provides a novel perspective on how time is spent in the school day. The descriptive analytics are based on a data set of 450 observations taken during a time-series classroom observation study in the intermediate-senior phase of a primary school. It is argued that the TOTA model can be a valuable tool for school managers and teachers to improve teaching and learning productivity through the efficient utilisation of allocated academic time. The time-on-task analysis presented in this paper further underscores the importance of teachers' classroom management competencies and has the potential to be a valuable tool to enhance the instructional and transformational leadership practices of school principals. [For the complete Volume 21 proceedings, see ED629259.]

This paper explores the current provisiom and roles of school counsellors in England's schools. Government interventions are discussed and the ongoing problems with the deteriorating mental health of children and adolescents, caused by social pressures, and then the Covid 19 pandemic, addressed. The numbers of counsellors available has risen, but is in no way equal to the provision in other countries and the response of the National Health Service (NHS) is also under severe pressure. Attitudes of parents, teachers and young people to counselling are explored, together with the wide-ranging qualifications and duties required of counsellors in England's schools. The conclusion is that the change of attitude by government towards counselling in schools, is still too little and too late. as many children have no access to in-school help with mental issues, or teachers the support they need to understand the mental health problems affecting children in their classes. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

This paper discusses the responses of schools and teachers in England and some other developed countries to Trans children, that is, those who feel that their assigned sex at birth was not correct. These children may be defined as Trans, that is wanting to change their assigned sex, or in other ways, such as having gender distress or dysphoria, or not being cisnormative which is, accepting one's sex assigned at birth. Recent years have seen a steady increase in the numbers of school children concerned about their birth assigned sex, presenting numerous problems. These include areas such as toilet facilities, changing rooms, sports studied, clothing, names and the use of pronouns and how to allot sleeping accommodation on a school journey. Parents in many cases are very concerned over schools' reactions, which have included schools agreeing to allow social transitioning without informing parents, ignoring the safeguarding instructions to schools, that parents must be informed of physical or mental health issues a child discloses. In addition, parents and schools can be at odds, with how schools should respond. In England, teachers have been waiting for guidance from the DfE on this matter since 2018, but this was not produced for schools until the end of 2023 for consultation, leaving schools to make individual decisions on actions. Comparisons are made with how schools in other developed countries have responded to this challenge and a small group of teachers in England, were asked to express their personal views on this subject and how it had affected their role in school. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

In alignment with the theme of the conference "Education in Developing, Emerging, and Developed Countries: Different Worlds, Common Challenges," this paper brings attention to the challenges associated with the implementation of sustainable research capacity building (SRCB) in the context of BRICS nations and African countries. Employing a comparative document analysis method to explore the unique contexts of developing nations, this research provides insights and recommendations to strengthen research capacity in academia, address shared challenges and promote national prosperity. The scholarly literature revealed that higher education institutions (HEIs) in developing countries have intensified their efforts in building the research capacity of their academics and institutions. Regardless of their commitment, HEIs face challenges such as gender inequalities, teaching workloads, doctoral program deficiencies, lack of multidisciplinary research approaches and funding constraints. Addressing the challenges will require improved funding for research training and research productivity. One of the main concerns is that instead of advancing knowledge and being producers thereof, most developing countries remain knowledge consumers. The findings revealed that developing the next generation of academics plays a critical role in the sustainability of an emerging country's research system. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

This paper presents an ongoing comparative study of secondary teachers' education programs in France, Greece, and England, with a primary focus on strategies aimed at cultivating a positive learning environment in schools. Recent studies have underlined the significance of teachers' pedagogical competence formation as a determinant element which will form their future in the teaching profession. Globalization and technological development being major characteristics of our century have had an undeniable impact on educational thought and practice which imposes the need to acquire new types of knowledge and skills to ensure teachers' capacity to deal with the needs of the new generation. Secondary teachers must implement targeted handlings towards a special age group--adolescence--in combination with the principles of the curriculum. Through interviews and focus groups with secondary teachers of various specialization and teaching experience the aim is to understand their needs and level of preparation for the purpose of entering the classroom equipped to conduct their demanding role and to explore the ways the undergraduate studies of secondary teachers can be enriched both theoretically--and especially--at a practical level. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

Ensuring the safety of learners is paramount in schools, particularly in workshops where hands-on learning takes place. Mechanical Technology teachers bear the responsibility for ensuring learners safe participation in activities, guided by specific safety management elements that dictate their duty of care and legal obligations. This paper presents findings from a comprehensive investigation conducted in 220 technical schools across South Africa, offering Mechanical Technology as a subject. Combining quantitative and qualitative methods, the investigation aimed to assess the frequency, severity, and management of accidents and injuries occurring in these workshops, while also examining the underlying reasons for such incidents. Results indicated that a significant number of accidents were attributed to unsafe behavior, including failure to wear or correctly use personal protective equipment. Furthermore, the study revealed a notable lack of awareness among participating teachers regarding injury reporting procedures and record-keeping practices. In response to these findings, it is recommended that Mechanical Technology teachers enhance their understanding of their legal obligations and responsibilities concerning learner safety. This entails strict adherence to safety policies and regulations to ensure a secure environment for all learners involved in workshop activities. Moreover, school governing bodies are urged to fulfill their legal mandate by developing and implementing effective safety policies for workshop environments. Such policies serve as crucial tools in reducing and preventing injuries, thereby mitigating legal liabilities for the department, teachers, and schools alike. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

There is a growing concern that AI is likely to replace the work done face to face in the classroom by teachers. The concerns also extend to the students use of AI to complete assignments which could impact on their grades either positive or negative and in some cases, when a student work is detected with high AI the work could be classified as plagiarism if AI usage is not declared. On another note, there are increasing debates about the use of AI as a valid tool to support work completed by human beings. Whatever maybe the growing concerns, many researchers have argued that AI is not likely to replace education jobs such as teaching and learning done by teachers and education administrators. The purpose of this paper is to explore debates around the use of AI in education, mostly in teaching and learning and assessment of students university misconduct policy. Teachers work and the link to the opinions on integrating AI in the classroom are illuminated by empirical evidence gathered via interviews. A lot of educators respond to AI in different ways. Some of the debates falls around AI as God of the admin work and assessment of students s sent tools that can help reduce some work such as helping with multiple choice questions, on the other hand, some students have been penalised and in some cases failed their work due to use of AI in completing their assignments without acknowledging the use. In addition, others have argued that AI has come to replace the work done by teachers and are anxious about AI in education jobs done by teachers, hence would not bear the idea for classroom teaching and learning. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The purpose of this paper is to emphasise the value of inducting and mentoring new practitioners in Early Childhood Education centres. Early Childhood Education centres are usually located in meaningful buildings. Centres care for more children than the family can provide for. They are usually divided into groups or classrooms of similarly aged children. Child care centres typically have many practitioners who are overseen by a centre manager or a director. Induction and mentoring are components of professional development aimed at enhancing the educational support system for all ECEC practitioners, particularly those who have recently been hired. Because centre managers are responsible for the growth and performance of their children, they should equip practitioners with support measures to help them improve child development and performance. Because most mothers work full-time, usually out of financial necessity, they require regular child care. For these mothers the question is not whether to use day-care, but how to choose among the available options in a way that is best for the child. Quality child care is more beneficial to children than staying at home. As a result, the purpose of this study is to look at conceptual frameworks as well as new approaches of educating and supporting practitioners to facilitate ECE learning excellence. More experienced personnel (mentors) should provide induction and mentorship, guidance, advice, and information to practitioners for career growth and enhanced performance. Findings reveal that induction and mentorship are important to pass along information, skills, and competence to practitioners who may not have had official training in these areas. Based on the appropriateness or inadequacy of the design of practitioner induction and mentoring programs, more study on the influence of induction on performance and practitioner turnover may be conducted (Ingersoll & Strong, 2011). Transformation and practitioner retention should be the goals of induction and mentorship. [For the complete Volume 22 proceedings, see ED656158.]

The notion that educators are committed to effective facilitation of racial integration in secondary schools has become the keystone in developing a socially just schooling system in South Africa. This paper sets out to determine the role educators play in the transformation of schools towards racial integration, as well as their nature and perception in facilitating racial integration in the truest sense. Findings emanating from this research indicate that the striking down of the policies and educational system of the Apartheid regime has propelled educators from segregated backgrounds into teaching learners from different racially diverse backgrounds. Similarly, most learners for the first time are being taught by racially diverse educators. A qualitative framework is used to investigate firsthand experiences of managing racial integration in relation to educators and school management, and their role in determining successful racial integration in secondary schools in South Africa. The purpose of this paper is to prepare educators with the accumulative knowledge, understanding and tenets of the Critical Race Theory (CRT) on how to create opportunities for decolonising classroom content and practice as well as addressing the weaknesses in previous approaches to racially integrate learners in desegregated schools. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

The paper reports on findings of a qualitative content analysis of four of the sixteen "novels in cartoons" books written by Jeff Kinney. Connell's theory of masculinity underpins this study. The aim of this paper is to answer the following two research questions: What are the most important gender themes in Kinney's cartoon diaries? Can teachers use Kinney's cartoon diaries to create an awareness of gender inequality? I identified the following gender themes that permitted hegemonic masculinities: bullying and violence, bravery, the importance of sport, gender relations and the tension of growing up in a matriarchal-patriarchal household. The study found that Kinney's books could be used as a point of departure to explain to children that the alpha male is not solely responsible for gender inequality and violence. The wimpy, seemingly innocent and helpless kid can also be the instigator of inequality between genders or within genders. The popularity and availability of Kinney's books make them an ideal vehicle for teachers worldwide to create a sensitivity for gender issues. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

The theory and the practice of home-schooling has adherents and opponents, but the research data shows that this phenomenon has increased significantly over the past years in many countries and in different regions around the world. A growing interest from families willing to home-school their children is also observed in Bulgaria. This paper aims to explore the home-schooling landscape in Bulgaria, including the legal framework and most common practices, and to analyze some of the results of home-schooling for selected Bulgarian families, who have made this choice. There is little scholarly research and official data on elective home education in Bulgaria and this paper provides an overview of this alternative education practice through a study of the available literature, legislation texts and analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with home-schoolers aged over 16 years. Despite the fact that home education generally meets a certain level of reluctance, the legislation in Bulgaria has evolved in the past years and allows families to home-school their children through an independent form of education, under the oversight of the government. Home-schooling in Bulgaria is a quite recent phenomenon. A small number of individuals have now finished their home education and have either joined a higher education institution or the job market directly. Evidence from the conducted interviews shows that these Bulgarian home-schoolers thrive and perform well, not only in their respective studies and/or jobs, but also in the society in general. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

This paper aims to demonstrate how a South African secondary school responded to the negative impact of COVID-19 and still ensures quality education. This paper's final objective is to link this experience to the theme of this book focusing on the next epoch of education. The paper commences with an orientation and autobiographical reflection on the case study-school (cs-school). The findings revealed how this school adopted and established an online digital education solution to ensure the continuation of effective teaching and learning amid, as well as after the pandemic. However, the findings also indicate challenges that this school experienced. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were developed by the United Nations in 2015 to encompass universal respect for equality and non-discrimination regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, and cultural diversity. Since 2000, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) have aligned with SDG 4.3 by developing higher education institutions (HEIs) which aims to "By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university". This was intended to create equal opportunities and permit full realisation and prosperity of human rights and human dignity. This paper explores the effectiveness of managing racial integration in BRICS HEIs and illustrates remarkable progress in research and policy enactment. Particular attention is devoted to the period from the mid-2000s when evidence around the globe exposed the presence of many forms of violence, which inhibit management of effective racial integration. Based on case studies from selected BRICS countries (South Africa, Russia, and Brazil), this paper explores how the management of racial integration is being addressed within these contexts. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

South Africa must embark upon the third epoch of education policy after the failures of the first two epochs: the 1953-1994 ("apartheid") era and the 1994-2021 era (the dawn of democracy and the dismantling of apartheid structures). There were not enough education opportunities to guide all the children of the country to maturity and acceptance of their civilian responsibilities. This paper examines the reasons why the education policies of the first two epochs failed and contributed to a poor, unequal and ineffective school education system. The paper also explores the challenges that the education system needs to confront to create a new education system that will support the attainment of the hitherto unfulfilled expectations and dreams that its citizens carried into the democratic era. The education policy of the third epoch must address critical issues to chart the way to an effective education system. There is a need to reorganize (reset) the education system in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. A streamlined curriculum needs to focus on the essential skills and knowledge the country needs. The system can no longer ignore the need for the adequate provision of vocational and technical education to alleviate the sharply rising unemployment rate of young people and support the growth of the economy. Quality education policy must function despite the lack of funds for the provision of appropriate and functional infrastructure and competent human resources. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

Having reviewed several pieces of strategy documents, policy papers, and literature, we concluded that there is no uniform definition of either institutional autonomy or academic freedom (AF). Many different points of view determine the interpretation of these terms. Furthermore, the policymakers (e.g., governments, legislators) can ignore the theories connecting to autonomy and AF and separate from them the legislation-level realization. This paper aims to overview different interpretations of autonomy and AF, highlighting the most important standpoints and presenting how autonomy and AF are realized in the national legislation. Considering the limited length of this paper, we focus on our respective countries, namely Hungary and South Africa. Our previous findings show that in many aspects, our countries face similar challenges despite the different historical antecedents. In previous research we compared the factors, which can influence research activities, however, we did not investigate the legislative framework. To that end, in this paper, we go further and look specifically at legal frameworks within our respective countries. Our results illustrate that without a homogenous content, the State may use the concepts of autonomy and AF in its legislation as it sees fit. This in turn may lead to autonomy and AF or some of their components, while being formally safeguarded, they may lose the guarantee character that corresponds to their actual content. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

The paper focuses on the influence of technology on communication between teachers and parents through electronic diaries. Theoretically, the paper is based on action-network theory and its understanding that non-human and human actors build a network of relationships. By using a qualitative research approach, including interviews with principals, teachers, and creators of the e-diaries, as well as focus groups with parents and students in several Bulgarian schools, opinions of the different stakeholders are explored in depth. The results show that communication is lacking or is really rare through electronic diaries or it can be one-sided, without the parents' possibility to reply to teachers. It is argued that the level of participation of parents in the educational process is low. Most parents and teachers do not really see the need to be more involved or to communicate through the diaries. If educational reforms and especially measures to increase parents' level of involvement are to be undertaken, they should take into consideration parents' understanding of the educational process and their views on how they could be more actively involved and how they could contribute to the overall change in the educational system and a more effective teaching and learning process. [For the complete Volume 20 proceedings, see ED622631.]

The aim of this paper is to tease out the caveats in the much vogue exercise of drawing lessons from foreign systems of education -- the theme of this book, with the final objective that this will point to the parameters appropriate for the discourse and for the reader when reflecting on the topics touched upon in this book. The paper commences with a survey of the historical evolution of the field of Comparative and International Education, demonstrating how the motivation for extracting "lessons" from other education systems has been a key feature of the field, and increasingly so in contemporary times. The caveats to exercise, related to the salience and complexity of context, to the nature of the act of education, and to the undermining of the professional autonomy of the teacher are then pointed out. These parameters should be respected in any discourse on taking education lessons from around the world. At the same time, these parameters present scholars of Comparative and International Education an opportunity to prove their value in the twenty-first century world. [For the complete Volume 19 proceedings, see ED613922.]

This empirical paper reports on perceptions held by early childhood practitioners about leadership in a multicultural environment. The paper problematises leadership in early childhood development (ECD) centres dealing with diverse ethnic children from the Black South African communities. Among others, it discusses the attributes required for leading a multicultural ECD environment, to contribute to ECD centre effectiveness. Managing a multicultural community is complex, however experienced leaders appreciate the validity of differences and commit to managing a multicultural environment. This empirical paper employed qualitative semi-structured approach to interview managers and practitioners on perceptions held about ECD leadership in multicultural centres. The increasing demands and expectations on ECD centre leaders having learners from diverse cultures, languages and backgrounds, reveal preparation and support challenges. Achievement of positive perceptions may require training, support and resources, because their absence may in fact lead to heightened tensions and prejudices about leaders by practitioners. Recommendations are that ECD centre managers be supported by government to develop cultural pluralism, inter group harmony, and the ability to think, work, and live within a multicultural context. [For the complete Volume 19 proceedings, see ED613922.]