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Updated April 12, 2007

Overview and Philosophy

  • The Center for International Education (CIE) is part of the Department of Education Policy, Research and Administration (EPRA) in the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. CIE is closely integrated with the academic program in International Education offered by EPRA. Together they offer graduate level professional training, service and research opportunities in the areas of International Development Education, Education Policy and Leadership, Nonformal/Popular Adult Education, and Internationalizing U.S. Education.
  • The Center is now in its 39th year. During the past four decades, the program has produced about 250 Doctoral degrees and over 230 Masters degrees. Graduates come from a total of 70 different nations, with about half coming from the USA, 22% from Africa, 18% from Asia, and 7% from the Caribbean or Latin America. Overall, 42% of the graduates are women and 58% are men. The Center has managed nearly $40 million in grants and contracts during this period. Recent projects have been located in Afghanistan, Sudan, Malawi, India, Uganda, Nepal, Azerbaijan and Guatemala. They are complemented by projects in Massachusetts working with Global Education and leadership training for immigrant and refugee communities.
  • Training is provided through both degree programs and non-degree programs at the University or in the field. Service learning opportunities are typically provided through funded projects and consulting opportunities. Research and development activities are often linked to projects and training programs being carried out by CIE.


  • CIE annual Fall retreat 2003
    Although part of a traditional university system, the Center is committed to operating as a participatory community where all members take an active role. Center members consist of faculty, staff, current students, and graduates. Together they form a learning community that combines study of theory with the practical management of educational programs. All on-campus members meet weekly for dialogue on professional issues, to listen to guest practitioners, and to manage Center activities. They also attend a yearly retreat (pictured at right) to reflect on CIE's history and to plan for its future. Funded projects are administered largely by Center members.

  • The academic program in International Education reflects the belief that the best professional training occurs when a person can move freely between periods of reflection, study, and field experiences. Much of the learning, therefore, takes place through the design and implementation of educational projects both in the United States and abroad in which students take an active part. Since the vitality and substance of this type of training depends heavily on the mutual commitment and contribution of all participants, the Center seeks to maintain a diversity of members who bring with them considerable field experience as well as commitment to international education.

Center Members - Who we are

  • Currently there are about 50 students in the academic program, with roughly one-third in the Master's program and two-thirds in the Doctoral program. We are committed to maintaining a diverse community of mid-career professionals, balancing gender (currently 52% women, 48% men) as well as nationality. Currently about 33% of the members are from the U.S. and 67% are international students representing: Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominica, England, Germany, Georgia, Haiti, India, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tibet, Tajikistan, and Uganda. Click here for biographies on current and recent students.
  • Faculty and Staff members round out the membership in the CIE community. There are currently five regular faculty members, one associated faculty member and several adjunct faculty members. The staff currently is made up of one professional staff member and one administrative staff member. For further information refer to Faculty & Staff.
  • Research interests in CIE are diverse, but there are common themes which run through many of them: concern for social equity; gender issues; alternative and empowering approaches to education; nonformal/popular education; critical analysis of development in the context of globalization; and adult basic education and literacy. Click here to see a list of Masters projects and doctoral dissertations which provide examples of recent work.