This paper discusses different sources of students' expectations of university, beginning with a thematic analysis of 21 semi-structured interviews with a diverse set of students at a UK University. We find that students draw on several different sources to develop their ideas of what university will be like; some of these sources are trusted more…

The new comparative research in this volume explores the global flow of competence-based education, curricular policy, and frameworks for instructional practice. Taking critical perspectives, the chapters trace the pathways through which educators and policy actors adopted and reshaped competence-based education as promoted by the OECD, the World…

This paper explores the mobilisation of crisis response and related rhetoric in contemporary European teacher education. Using a critical vertical case analysis of illustrative national, regional, and institutional crisis-mediation settings (Switzerland, Germany, Ireland), we examine how crisis-informed policy response addresses global challenges…

This article argues for the need to regard social origin as a complex phenomenon in order to better understand the determinants of individuals' participation in adult learning. It: (1) discusses the conceptualisation of social origin; (2) analyses how two of its components -- parental (both father's and mother's) class and education -- are…

Purpose: Even though the pandemic years resulted in a significant increase in massive open online courses (MOOCs), there are still countries where penetration is low. The rejection of MOOCs can inhibit individual and societal advancements. The purpose of this study is to explore what is behind the resistance to MOOCs in these regions. Using the…

With the rapid development of international education, China has become a popular destination for international students. In this context, whether students settle in China or return to their hometowns after graduation is a matter of interest. Based on a recent questionnaire survey circulated among international students in Nanjing, Jiangsu…

Over the past two decades, the Chinese language has emerged as a global language. Gulf Cooperation Council countries, such as Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have integrated Chinese language into their educational systems and established Confucius Institutes to promote Chinese language and culture. In Qatar, interest in…

Stimulating outperformance has been increasingly emphasized in educational policies. Although personally satisfying, outperformance can also lead to interpersonal strain, which is often overlooked in the educational excellence discourse. Exline and Lobel (1999, "Psychological Bulletin, 125"(3), 307-337) coined Sensitivity about being the…

The current educational landscape is flooded with new technological tools, especially with the arrival of artificial intelligence, which is applicable at all levels of instructional practices. However, the application of technology in assessment in higher education has been understudied. This study focused on filling this research gap by examining…

This article examines the complex socio-political factors that hindered the growth of girls' education in northern Ghana during the colonial and early postcolonial periods. While previous research has focused on broader regional disparities between the North and the South, the gendered aspects of educational disparity within the North remain…

Despite the volume of research on empathy and prosocial behavior, there is a dearth of studies exploring early adolescents' experiences of practicing cognitive empathy and prosocial behavior. Without understanding both the challenges and opportunities of these two skills, we cannot effectively support their growth during this critical…

Picturebooks communicate complex details to children about the world. Educators and scholars engaged in picturebook analysis must consider the ways each of the design elements contributes to the meaning of the picturebook. This article engages in critical collaborative inquiry through a "book case" to put to work two approaches to gain…

This qualitative case study (N=3) investigates the identity construction of novice language teachers in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL) within Thailand. Framing teacher identity as a complex dynamic system, the study employs the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (DSMRI) to explore how these teachers (re)define and…

The objectives of this research were 1) To Study the current situation and expected situation of the enhancing sustainable reading ability of high school students. 2) To develop the strategies for the enhancing sustainable reading ability of high school students, and 3) To Evaluate the adaptability and feasibility of the strategies for sustainable…

The concepts of student motivation and student engagement have emerged from related but distinct fields of study. Contemporary scholars suggest that student engagement is shaped by various sociocultural, contextual, and personal factors (including motivation), and that it serves as a pathway to various positive student outcomes (e.g., academic…