4^th International Conference

Comparative Education and Teacher Training

Organized by the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society

Sofia, Bulgaria, 1–4 May 2006

Our way of being an integral part of the international comparative education community.

About the conference

Goal and objectives

The overall goal of the conference is to focus academic discussions on the role of Comparative Education and new practices in teacher training.

The conference objectives are:

(1) to examine different approaches to the role of Comparative Education as a science, research methodology, and academic discipline;

(2) to develop linkages with colleagues who work in various teacher training programs at universities, colleges, and institutes around the world;

(3) to outline prospects for the development of education policy at the institutional, regional, national and international level.

The Conference is purposefully planned to be a small but high-quality international event. The small conference format aims to give participants a friendly, homey and cozy environment providing excellent opportunities for contacts, presentations and discussions.

The organizer

The Bulgarian Comparative Education Society (BCES) is the organizer of the conference. Founded in Sofia in 1991, the BCES has been a constituent member-society of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies since 1992. The BCES keeps close contacts with the WCCES Secretariat and many member-societies.

Conference chairs

Prof. Dr. habil. Nikolay Popov (Sofia University, Bulgaria), President of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society

Prof. Dr. Georgi Bishkov (Sofia University, Bulgaria), Chairman of the Education Commission at the National Agency of Accreditation and Assessment

Keynote speakers

Prof. Dr. Karen Biraimah (College of Education, University of Central Florida, U.S.A.)

Other keynote speakers’ names will be added.

Language and equipment

The Conference language is English. All presentations and discussions are in English. Internet connection, overhead projector (for transparencies) and digital projector (for PowerPoint presentations) are available.

Workshops

v Comparative Education as a Teacher Training Discipline: history, problems, and approaches

Workshop Chair: Prof. Dr. Charl Wolhuter (North-West University, South Africa)

sooccw@puknet.puk.ac.za

v Teacher Training: curricula, innovations, and new strategies

Workshop Chair: Ass. Prof. Dr. Craig Heller (Florida Gulf Coast University, USA)

cheller@fgcu.edu; craigheller@hotmail.com

v Education Policy: developments, insights, and trends

Workshop Chair: Prof. Dr. Marcella Kysilka (University of Central Florida, USA)

kysilka@bellsouth.net

Call for papers

Participants are invited to submit papers.

According to the tradition established in the previous three conferences, a book of papers will be published before the beginning of the conference. Each participant will receive a free copy of the book. The book title is Comparative Education and Teacher Training (2006, Vol. 4).

Papers should be written in English in a Word for Windows format (Times New Roman 11, Single), containing up to 2500 words, and sent by e-mail as Word attachments by 15 January 2006 to the relevant Workshop Chair's e-mail address. The Workshop Chairs will confirm the receipt of papers and will inform participants if their papers will be included in the conference book.

Registration

Registration form

The Registration form is available on the last page of this document.

Please send the Registration form to: npopov@fnpp.uni-sofia.bg

Registration fees

Type of registration fee	Amount	Deadline
Registration fee	EUR 195	15 January 2006
Registration fee for participants in the previous conferences	EUR 170	15 January 2006
Registration fee for accompanying person	EUR 170	15 January 2006

Method of payment

The conference registration will only be confirmed upon receipt of the registration fee.

The bank transfer is the method of payment. Please contact the conference chair for the conference bank account's details.

Cancellation

Cancellation may be done before 1 February 2006. In this case the canceling persons will be refunded their registration fees minus the bank commission for the transfer. There will be no refund for cancellations after 1 February 2006.

What the registration fees cover

Each one of the registration fees covers:

· participation in conference sessions and coffee/tea breaks;

· publication of paper (if any) in the conference book;

· conference materials;

· a free copy of the conference book;

· a welcome cocktail (on 1 May 2006);

· 3 lunches (on 2, 3 and 4 May 2006);

· an official dinner (on 4 May 2006).

Accommodation

Rooms in 3-star hotels will be offered to participants. The hotel prices are:

Occupancy	Prices a night
Single room	EUR 40
Double room	EUR 45
Big apartment (2 bedrooms and a living room)	EUR 80
Small apartment (a bedroom and a living room)	EUR 55
Breakfast	EUR 3–4

Participants will pay for their accommodation directly to the hotels after arriving at Sofia.

Preliminary Program

Monday, 1 May 2006

Arriving and taking rooms
17.00 - 18.00	Non-formal meeting of participants
18.00	Welcome cocktail

Tuesday, 2 May 2006

09.30 - 10.00	Opening
10.00 - 11.00	Keynote address
11.00 - 11.30	Coffee/tea break
11.30 - 13.00	Conference session
13.00 - 14.00	Lunch
14.00 - 15.30	Conference session
15.30 - 16.00	Coffee/tea break
16.00 - 17.30	Conference session

Wednesday, 3 May 2006

09.30 - 11.00	Keynote address
11.00 - 11.30	Coffee/tea break
11.30 - 13.00	Conference session
13.00 - 14.00	Lunch
14.00 - 15.30	Conference session

Thursday, 4 May 2006

09.30 - 11.00	Conference session
11.00 - 11.30	Coffee/tea break
11.30 - 13.00	Closing
13.00 - 14.00	Lunch

19.00	Official dinner

Friday, 5 May 2006

Departure or post-conference cultural tours.

Two post-conference cultural tours are offered to participants (additional payment required):

Date	Time	Place to visit	Price
5 May 2006	09.30 - 12.00	National History Museum	EUR 15
5 May 2006	12.30 - 18.00	Rila Monastery	EUR 30

Prices include bust transport, English guide, tickets.

deadline

The deadline for

Ø sending registration forms

Ø transferring registration fees

Ø submitting papers

is 15 January 2006.

Conference Chair

Professor Dr. habil. Nikolay Popov

President of the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society

Sofia University

Faculty of Primary and Preschool Education

Blvd Shipchenski prohod 69 A

1574 Sofia, Bulgaria

tel: (+359 2) 97 06 240; fax: (+359 2) 72 23 21

e-mail: npopov@fnpp.uni-sofia.bg

The Registration form is available on the next page.

Reg. No:	Date:
Please do not type here. For Organizers’ use only

4^th International Conference

Comparative Education and Teacher Training

Organized by the Bulgarian Comparative Education Society

Sofia, Bulgaria, 1–4 May 2006

REGISTRATION FORM

I. Participant contact details

Title and names:

Institution:

Address:

Country:

Tel.:

Fax:

E-mail:

II. Arrival / Departure / Accommodation

Arrival date:
Departure date:
Number of nights:
Number of accompanying persons:
Room reservation (please tick below):
Single room	Double room	Small apartment	Big apartment

III. Paper (if any)

Preferable workshop:

Title of paper:

Name of co-presenter (if any):

IV. Post-conference cultural tours (additional payment required; if you wish to attend please send the amount for the cultural tour/s together with your registration fee):

Please write YES / NO below	Place to visit	Date	Price
	National History Museum	5 May 2006	EUR 15
	Rila Monastery	5 May 2006	EUR 30

V. Notes:

1. Please send this registration form to: npopov@fnpp.uni-sofia.bg

2. Your registration will only be confirmed upon receipt of the registration fee.

3. You will pay for accommodation directly to the hotel after your arrival.