Educational Reform and Educational Research: New Challenges in Linking Research, Information and Decision Making
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 393 196 EA 027 458 TITLE Educational Reform and Educational Research: New Challenges in Linking Research, Information and Decision Making. Final Report of the International Meeting (Tokyo, Japan, September 4-14, 1995). INSTITUTION International Bureau of Education, Geneva (Switzerland).; National Inst. for Educational Research, Tokyo (Japan). PUB DATE 95 NOTE 131p. AVAILABLE FROM International Bureau of Education, P.O. Box 199, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland. PUB TYPE Collected Works Conference Proceedings (021) Information Analyses (070) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC06 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Comparative Analysis; Comparative Education; *Educational Research; Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; Higher Education; Information Dissemination; Information Utilization; *International Education; *International Educational Exchange; Partnerships in Education; Regional Cooperation; *School Restructuring; Theory Practice Relationship ABSTRACT This document summarizes proceedings of a meeting held in September 1995. The purpose of the meeting was to gather educaturs and policymakers in order to establish criteria concerning links between educational research and decision making. Twenty participants from the following countries attended: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The first section of the document summarizes the main issues brought out in the countries' reports: (1) the most pressing educational issues and problems;(2) linkages between educational research, educational reform, and decision making;(3) the major educational information sources available; and (4) main obstacles to better use of research for decision making. The second section offers a synthesis of the nations' experiences. Main issues are summarized and recommendations are offered in the third section. Recommendations include: establishing an international database on comparative studies; conducting comparative research; providing training for researchers and users of research; developing a regular forum of national and international researchers, practitioners, and policymakers; promoting information dissemination; and developing international networks. Appendices contain a summary of the country reports, a list of participants, and a list of acronyms and abbreviations. (LMI) **********************************************************A************ * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******,.*************************************************************** EETIN6O" A OF; r- ), \It t V ik'.` t- IN G RESEAg CISION-MA e ber 1995 6, 'Japan , at U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educahonal Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS CENTER (ERIC) iliThisdocument has been reproduced as MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY received from tne person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points ot view or opinions staled in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) raw Iftr) '1711 CI',I -4= argrata , ,uieau of Education (IBE) i chiCalionai Research of Japan BEST6-63ifAVAILABLEI 2 FINAL REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON EDUCATIONAL REFORM AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH: NEW CHALLENGES IN LINKING RESEARCH, INFORMATION AND DECISION-MAKING 4-14 September 1995 N I ER, Tokyo. Japan MSC° International Bureau of Education (1131;) and National Institute for Educational Research of Japan (NIER) TABLE OF CONTENTS Final report Introduction, p. 3 Synthesis of country experiences, p. 7 Main issues and recommendations, p. 27 Annex I: Summaries of country reports Argentina, p. 39 Australia, p. 43 Bahrain, p. 48 Botswana, p. 51 Brazil, p. 53 Chile, p. 57 China, p. 62 Egypt, p. 64 Germany, p. 69 Indonesia, p. 76 Japan, p. 79 Kenya, p. 83 Malaysia, p. 90 Netherlands, p. 94 Philippines, p. 100 Republic of Korea, p. 104 Romania, p. 111 Thailand, p. 113 United Kingdom (Scotland), p. 118 Annex II: List of participants, p. 123 Annex List of acronyms and abbreviations. p. 129 ( 1995. International Bureau ot Educatiim. P.O. Box 199. 1211 Gene% a 20, Swit/erland FINAL REPORT: INTRODUCTION Background In both developing and developed countries, educationalreform continues to bc an important priority. In order to provide national education authorities with a solidbasis for high-quality and innovative educational reforms, an increasingly rigorousproduction, utilization and exchange of informationis called for.Inter-regional and international co-operation and exchange of information and experiences among concernedinstitutions in this domain are critically impotlant. In pursuance of UNESCO's Programme and Budget for 1994-1995,approved by the Gene" Conference at its twenty-seventh session. Paris, 1993,the International Bureau of .acation (UNESCO-IBE) proposed that theNational Institute for Educational Research of Japan (NIER) organize 'a meeting of officials from the main centresof comparative education and decision-makers in order to establish criteria concerninglinks between educational research and decision-making.NIER decided to organize, jointly with the IBE, the International Meeting on Educational Reform and Educational Research:New Challenges in Linking Research, Information and Decision-making', from 4 to 14September 1995, by bringing together high-level officials and researchers who playimportant rolesin the management of educational research and i's use for policyformulation and decisions. It was significant for the discussions in the meeting that participants weredrawn from all regions and from a variety of institutions. The location of themeeting at the NIER was particularly helpful for the deliberations of the participants. The NIER is animportant educational research agency. generally supervised and financed by thelarge and powerful Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; its experiences, as well as itsform and style of operation. were important sources of insight for the participants. ObjectiN es The main objectives of the meeting were: to exchange information oncriticalissues and problems of educationin participating countries and review the state of educational research related to the implementation and evaluation of reforms; todiscussandidentifyfutureresearchandinformationneedsforthc implementation of educational reform and decision-making; to suggest ways of promoting co-operation and communicationbetween decision- makers in education, educational researchers and information/documentation specialists, in order to promote effective educational decision-making: and to propose suggestions to educational research institutions,decision-making bodies and documentation centres on ways and means of strengthening regional and international co-operation so as to link educational research, information and decision-making effectively. These objectives invited thc participants to focus on problems in establishingeffective links between educational research, policy development and practice and the final reportreflects this. Participants did not spend time developing a reassuring catalogue of exampleswhere educational research has influenced policy and plactice. They gave their attentionto deficiencies in an enterpnse to which they have orong proftssional commitments,in the belief that it was better to direct their efforts to the clarification of problems and to thesuggestion of strategies tor improvement. Participation Twenty participants from the following countries took partin the meeting: Argentina. Australia, Bahrain, Botswana, Brazil, Chile. China, Egypt, Germany, Indonesia. Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. These participantswere invited as individuals, able to speak about the experience of their countries, but notas official representatives. The Chief of UNESCO-PROAP's Asia-Pacific Centre of Educational Innovation for Development (ACEID) and two staff members from NIER participated in the meeting as observer-participants. Mr Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO. who was on an official visit to Japan, addressed the meeting on 12 September 1995. A list of participants. observers and the secretariat members of NIER and the IBE is provided in Annex II. Inauguration The meeting started with an opening address by Mr Yukihiko Hishimura, Director-General of NIER, followed by a welcome addrey; by Mr Hideki Hayas}-ida, Director-General of the Bureau of International Affairs, Japanese Minisuy of Education. Science, Sports and Culture. Mr Juan Quios Tedesco. Director of the IBE. delivered a welcoming speech to participantson behalf of the Director-General of UNESCO. Election of officers of the meeting Thc participants unanimously elected the followingpersons as officers of the meeting: Chairperson: Dr Vichai Tunsiri (Thailand) Vice-Chairpersons: Dr Nadia Gamal El Din (Egypt) Dr Lydia Nyati-Rarnahobo (Botswana) Rapporteurs: Dr Cesar Birzea (Romania) Dr Barry McGaw (Australia) Organization of the meeting Thc meeting be2an with the presentation of the country reports. followed by theIBE's presentation of a synthesis report. and discussions on: future research and information needs for implementation of educational reform and decision-making;