2009 Conference: One World, One School? School Models and Globalisation
Organized by the Revue internationale d'éducation de Sèvres, the symposium took place from March 12 to 14, 2009 at the CIEP, bringing together 120 experts from 30 countries. Its aim was to analyze the diversity of school models in a globalized world.
Education systems have been built based on several models with a universal aim that have applied to a wide range of countries and situations. This rationale for seeking convergence has always been encouraged by international bodies as well as by the bilateral cooperation agreements signed between the different countries.
However, after observing the reality of schools in this ‘‘global village’’, it appears that distinct forms of schools have emerged and are continuing to emerge, which are in fact juxtaposed. They live side by side and form a unit that is quite diversified and complex.
This situation has come about due to the historic, political, economic, religious, social and cultural specificity of each country. Moreover, all school systems do not share the same rationale, proclaim the same values, necessarily lean towards the same organisation or even the same purposes.
The International Conference organised by the Revue internationale d’éducation de Sèvres aimed at defining and analysing the different elements of this diversity. This event endeavoured to discern the developments, resistance, points of convergence and what could be considered as singular or hybrid in nature.
The Conference provided a framework for research and the practices in various countries over four continents, including systemic or local changes, innovative or emerging developments. The participants also compared the policies implemented by the States, international organisations, schools, territories and communities.
This led to a better understanding of today’s educational trends in 27 countries. This three-day event provided elements for an issue published in December 2009.