Internal review and self-evaluation — the chosen route to school improvement in ireland?

In recent years there has been an intense debate in many countries concerning the best approach to improving schools. The various methods being tried might be reasonably seen as constituting a continuum ranging from strict external control and inspection at one end, to self-evaluation and internal regulation at the other. In practice, most education systems appear to be moving towards a combination of these methods, involving a degree of external monitors of internal self-evaluation mechanisms. This article analyses the gradual emergence in the Irish education system of such an accommodation. It charts the increased emphasis being placed upon school self-evaluation and argues that it does constitute the best way forward. However, it also highlights a major lacuna at the heart of the emerging system, namely the lack of firm data on which schools can really base effective improvement strategies.     

初中英语教材Learning English使用调查分析

初中英语教材Learning English体现了新的教学理念和教学方法。通过调查、分析本套教材使用已取得的初步成效和存在的问题，提出促进对新教材、新教法的理解和认识,更好地推广使用的建议。     

Priorities for evaluation of nontraditional degree programs

The request to evaluate a nontraditional degree program sounds simple enough. But what does it mean “to evaluate the program?” This article identifies twelve major areas seeming to require evaluative attention according to the perspectives of a number of different groups of people. In addition to identifying these areas, the study suggested priorities for the areas in terms of their long-term, overall importance in a complete evaluation plan and their immediate or short-term importance in the early stages of program implementation.     

Confucius Institutes and China’s soft power: practices and paradoxes

Since China’s implementation of the Confucius Institute (CI) project in 2004, most academic works have been written on its objectives, nature, features, development, problems and challenges, especially in terms of soft power projection. Though some of them could unravel the tensions and paradoxes in the CI project, there is a paucity of in-depth and focused analysis on the related issues with a more systematic framework. Utilising Tellis et al.’s tripartite taxonomy approach to power – resources, strategies and outcomes – and integrating it with Nye’s tripartite approach to exercising power – coercion, inducement and attraction – this paper aims to fill this research gap. The findings can shed light on the tensions and paradoxes in China’s development of soft power by providing a more systematic and integrated framework for analysing the dilemmas and predicaments in the exercise of its power strategies in the global age.     

The utilization,depoloyment and management of primary teachers in Africa South of the Sahara

A member of the programme staff of the International Institute for Educational Planning since 1988. Her principal research themes are education policy and the development of human resources, the role of examinations, and the administration and management of teachers. Main publications include:Stratégies d'innovations technologiques et politiques éducatives en France, en RFA et au Royaume-Uni [Strategies for innovative technology and educational policies in France, the Federal Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom] (1989) and (with F. Caillods and K. Lewin)Science education provision at secondary level: planning and policy issues [forthcoming].