The mission of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) is to contribute to an understanding of education through encouragement and promotion of comparative education and related areas of inquiry and activity. This includes (1) promoting teaching and research in comparative and international education in institutions of higher learning in both national and international contexts, (2) fostering application of comparative theories and research in applied settings, (3) facilitating the publication and dissemination of comparative, cross-cultural, interdisciplinary, and international studies contributing to interpretation of developments in the field of education in their broad and interrelated political, economic, and social contexts, (4) encouraging educational and cultural exchanges, and (5) promoting and fostering understanding of how educational policies and programs can improve social and economic development.

The enactment of this mission at times requires CIES to take an official, public stance on social and policy issues (please see the CIES Guiding Principles on Taking a Public Stance). Below is a collection of statements that document the Comparative and International Education Society’s social and policy engagement.

CIES Statement on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on December 5th, 2023)

CIES Statement in Solidarity with Sri Lankan Student Activists (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on December 5th, 2022)

CIES Statement in Solidary with Iranian People (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on December 5th, 2022

CIES Statement in Solidarity with the People of Ukraine (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on March 4, 2022)

CIES Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism and American History (endorsed by the CIES Board of Directors on June 15, 2021)

CIES Statement in Solidarity with Asian, Asian American & Pacific Islander communities in the US (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on March 25, 2021)

CIES Statement Urging the U.S.A. to Re-Engage with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on November 18, 2020)

CIES Statement on ICE Policy for International Students and Online-Only Instruction (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on July 10, 2020)

Statement on Racist Violence and Injustice Against Black People (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on June 3, 2020)

CIES Statement on US Withdrawal from UNESCO (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on December 2, 2017)

CIES Statement in Response to January 2017 U.S. Executive Order on Immigration (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on January 31, 2017)

CIES Statement on the 2016 US Presidential Campaign and Election (approved by the CIES Board of Directors on November 11, 2016)

Manifesto on Gender in Education (endorsed by the CIES Executive Committee on June 20, 2013)

Resolution by the Membership of the Comparative and International Education Society Regarding UNESCO (endorsed by the Membership of the Comparative and International Education Society on March 13, 2013)