ANZCIES Conference: Comparative Minds

I've just returned from the annual Australia and New Zealand Comparative and International Education Society (ANZCIES) Conference in Perth. I arrived Perth on Monday 24th in the evening and the whole flight experience was really shocking since there were, at least 5 crying babies on board! However, I spent all 4 hours reading some business magazines that I plan to read a long while ago.

The conference started on tuesday and this year there were a few delagated from the World Council of CIES, including Prof. Crane the president of the world council of CIES and Prof. David Turner from Wales. I really enjoy and was striked Prof. turner's keynote address on "comapartive method" as one of the key messages sending aroundto the audiences was "are we all comparing what we supppose to compare? If not, what will be the consequences of this malfunction of the approach?" That strikes me because in my current project, I am aiming to compare business learnig methods among fuinance, management, and accounting business but there are a number of contexts that I still haven't seriously considered to affect thee way these students learn in their classes.

The first day of ANZCIES conference was filled by a number of topics and presentations that broaden my ideas on the direction of higher education in different corners in this globe. For example, Brian Denman, the young president of the ANZCIES, led the key discussion on transnational education market and online modes of entry. Although this topic isn't new to me, I thought some of the info. on the spread of online ed. market in the global arena as discussed by Brian is well supported by the data.

The best paper - so far for me is ...of course my most favourite scholar Dr. Anne Hickling Hudson from Queensland Uni. Her topic on the collaborative project (trdae/development/education) from Cuba to Venezuela and other caribbean nations is really impressive and insightful. I mean I couldn't have any clues on quality of Cuban ed and the fact that this country is the leading nation among lativ american groups in trade and development. Good thing to share with my students in the class.

The funniest moment- my students' ponsan and our duet-presentation on social imaginary and globalisation in higher education policy in Thailand" It's fuuny because when i lloked at Ponsan I saw myself when I came back to ANZCIES for the first time in 2000 and of course I was nervours like hell! So was Ponsan and the time he presented his paper! The supportive collegiality of ANZCIES will immune my student for the future research activity! I know it will be good for him!

The hottest moment- Leslie vidovich and her presentation on "Trust in Higher Education" OMG! How could you spend 45 mins discussing "trust" in the context of the HE and Di cullen,the best mentor of the conference, from the australian catholic university started to point out role of university as public institution not profit making and its conflich with trust! hot hot hot!

Obviously, I have made a number of new contacts with "colleagues" from a number of institutions such as the University of New Wngland, Newcastle Uni., Macquarie, the World Bank, UWS etc. and I do feel this is going to be a long-term academic relationship.

2 good news: I was selected as Victoria representative for the ANZCIES! How exciting! I would love to organise and support the work of ANZCIES in Victoria and make it a better event! Secondly, Ponsan my student is nominated (and selected) as student representative for ANZCIES...well done!

My final word is there are a number of new theories (Southern theory, Human capital (in the context of comaparative ed) theory etc.) Godd learning experiences folks!