The International Baccalaureate in Asia

Drawing on extensive scholarly work, datasets, and experience with International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in Asia, this book illuminates contemporary debates, discussions, and discoveries surrounding IB schools in the region. Schools adopting IB programmes are growing exponentially worldwide, where Asia has seen the fastest growth since 2000. By critically exploring the roles, practices, and impacts of IB schools, this book enhances our understanding of whether and how IB programmes can drive improvements in school practices and systems in Asia.

The book is organised into four parts and 12 chapters, aiming to discern “the light and shadow” of schools implementing IB programmes. Part 1 provides insights into International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) students' learning experiences and outcomes. Part 2 focuses on school leadership, examining the role of leadership in programme implementation and its relationship with IBDP student achievement. Part 3 offers a comparative perspective on the IB, exploring topics such as the pedagogical characteristics of the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the introduction of IB programmes into local and national education systems, and comparing the promised and actual benefits between the IBDP and other international programmes. Finally, Part 4 addresses two critical issues related to the expansion of IB programmes in Asia: the introduction and operation of IB programmes within national contexts and the emergence of educational stratifications and inequalities by the expansion of IB schools. Built on substantial data and empirical studies, this book fills a crucial gap in understanding the evolving nature of IB programmes in Asia. It provides readers with a critical and comprehensive understanding of the changing landscape of IB schooling practices and systems in the region.

This book is an invaluable resource for academics, educators, scholars, and graduate students in the fields of educational leadership and administration, comparative and international education, higher education, and education policy and governance.

Moosung Lee is Professor at Yonsei University in South Korea. Previously, he served as Centenary Professor at the University of Canberra, Australia.

Ewan Wright is Assistant Professor within the Faculty of Education and Human Development at the Education University of Hong Kong. His primary research interests are international schools, international student mobility, and global higher education. He has been the principal investigator for research projects funded by the International Baccalaureate, Round Square, the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme of Hong Kong, and the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong.

Allan Walker is Adjunct Chair Professor of International Educational Leadership and Co-Director of the Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership and Change at the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK). He was previously Dean of the Faculty of Education and Human Development at EdUHK.