"Frontiers Journal" and the Forum on Education Abroad: Building a Research Tradition on Education Abroad for the Comparative Education Scholarship

Overview & Synopsis

Drawing on the author's experience as a founder and editor of the first academic journal devoted to education abroad ("Frontiers: the interdisciplinary journal of education abroad"), and his work leading the first membership association devoted exclusively to education abroad (the Forum on Education Abroad), this article provides suggestions for areas of education abroad that would benefit from comparative education abroad research. The article argues that comparative education has much to contribute to education abroad research by helping us to understand educational systems around the world through examining education abroad structures, processes and topics; by informing us about how education abroad practices reflect the host culture and society, thereby enlightening us about the relationships between education and society; and by helping to advance education abroad practices and thereby improve education. Comparative research on the topics proposed in the article will provide important information needed by governments, institutions, organizations and program sponsors, and the professionals involved in creating and managing education abroad programs. Ultimately, the best reason for conducting such research is to benefit the many students who participate in education abroad programs as part of their education. (Contains 9 notes.)