Comparative education seeks to throw light on education in one country (or group of countries) by using data and insights drawn from the practises and situation in another country, or countries. According to Noah (1985), comparative education has four purposes: (1) to describe educational systems, processes, or outcomes (2) to assist in the development of educational insitutions and practices, (3) to highlight the relationships between education and society, and (4) to establish generalized statements about education that are valid in more than one country. Comparative education is often incorrectly assumed to encompass necessarily studies that compare two or more different countries. In its early years (an often still today) the field in fact eschewed such research, preferring rather to focus on comparisons within a single country over time.

For example, in the United States there is no nationwide certificate of completion of secondary education. Question: what are the advantages and the disadvantages of leaving such certification to each of the 50 states? Comparative education draws on the experience of countries such as Japan and France to show how a centralized system works, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of centralized certification.

Comparative education is closely allied to, and may overlap with, international education. international educational development. International education is the practice and/or study of international cooperation and aid among countries, including the exchange of students, teachers, and researchers between countries. ...