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International Education

q&a

Learning Is a Lifelong Process: Q&A with V. Darleen Opfer
As vice president and director of RAND Education and Labor, V. Darleen Opfer oversees a research portfolio that ranges from early childhood education to retirement planning. In this interview, she discusses what she learned from being a teacher, the need for evidence-based practices, and the importance of lifelong learning in today's labor market.
Dec 23, 2019

commentary

Implementing Education Reforms to Enhance School Performance
Although countries differ greatly in how their education systems are structured, financed, and the extent to which they are centralized, they share common obstacles that undermine reform success. Beyond the obvious steps of providing adequate resources and professional development, there are ways to improve the implementation of school-wide reforms.
Nov 13, 2015
q&a

Syrian Refugees: All You Need to Know
The world can only absorb so many millions of refugees. The civil war in Syria demands a political solution facilitated by international leadership that will bring stability and enable refugees to return to home.
Sep 17, 2015
commentary

Help Syria Avoid a 'Lost Generation'
Young Syrian refugees are brimming with potential, but lack the educational and livelihood pathways through which to channel their energy and aspirations. As the international community looks for ways to end the violence in the region, it must not overlook the plight or the potential of these children.
Jul 17, 2015
commentary

Syria's Simmering Crisis
At least half of Syrian refugee children aren't in school. Those who are face risks to the quality of education they receive, a risk they share with host-country children. But by making long-term investments, the international community can help ensure education isn't another casualty of the war.
Jan 21, 2015
commentary

Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
Dec 31, 2014
commentary

Measuring Impact: How Australia and the UK Are Tackling Research Assessment
The UK is the first country to attempt to allocate funding based on the wider societal impact of research, and in 2012, a subset of higher education institutions in Australia ran a small-scale pilot exercise to assess impact and understand the potential challenges of the process. What can be learned by comparing the UK and Australian approaches?
Dec 8, 2014
commentary

With Child Migrants Set to Become Students, Educators Must Prepare
Between 70,000 and 90,000 unaccompanied children are expected to cross the U.S.-Mexico border by year's end. Lost in an intensifying debate over U.S. immigration policy is the possibility that this wave will spill from shelters to schools. To best respond to this reality, policymakers and educators should consider what research says about educating migrant children.
Jul 14, 2014
commentary

Comparing Higher Education Entrance Qualifications Across Europe
Given the opportunities for mobility of students and graduates across Europe, there is a need to understand how each country's higher education admission requirements compare, and to consider the long-term effects of those requirements on the skills, innovativeness, and resilience of Europe's workforce.
Nov 27, 2013
blog

For Pardee RAND Graduate School, a $3.6 Million Gift
Frederick S. Pardee, a former RAND researcher, contributed $3.6 million to support the Pardee RAND Graduate School and to create its Pardee Initiative for Global Human Progress. His generous gift will seed projects that help those in developing countries.
Sep 4, 2013
commentary

The Middle East's Science Revolution?
Even as conflict rages, a wave of research and innovation in Arabian Gulf countries is bringing with it significant investment in science and research infrastructure — and even U.S.-style universities, writes Shelly Culbertson.
Jun 27, 2013
announcement

2013 WISE Awards Celebrate Innovation in Education Across the Globe
The World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) recognizes six innovative projects that are having a transformative impact on education around the world.
Feb 28, 2013