Common Interests, Uncommon Goals : Histories of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies and Its Members

distinction Masters student at the University of Hong Kong, who then proceeded to her doctoral studies under the supervision of Mark Bray and myself. Her d- toral research field is closely linked to the subject of this book. The book also benefits greatly from the distinguished authorship of the - dividual chapters. The section on the WCCES itself has been written by former Presidents, some of whom have also had links with the University of Hong Kong either as visitors or, in one case (Anne Hickling-Hudson), as a Commonwealth Scholar. Most of the chapters on the individual societies have been written by Past Presidents of those societies, all distinguished figures in the field th- selves. The book shows that it is possible to talk of a global field of comparative education, of which one manifestation is the WCCES itself. At the same time, the emphases of the field are very different in, say, China, South Africa and France. These are among the factors that make the field so interesting and p- ductive. CERC is proud to make its own contribution to the field in multiple ways, including through the publication of this book. Mark Mason Editor CERC Studies in Comparative Education Series Director Comparative Education Research Centre The University of Hong Kong Introduction Mark BRAY, Maria MANZON & Vandra MASEMANN

The World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) was established in 1970 as an umbrella body which brought together five national and regional comparative education societies. Over the decades it greatly expanded, and now embraces three dozen societies.

This book presents histories of the WCCES and its member societies. It shows ways in which the field has changed over the decades, and the forces which have shaped it in different parts of the world. The book demonstrates that while comparative education can be seen as a single global field, it has different characteristics in different countries and cultures. In this sense, the book presents a comparison of comparisons.