Introduction

Abstract

The Mediterranean Society of Comparative Education (MESCE) was born in Catania, Sicily as a result of the vision and enthusiasm of a Sicilian scholar, Giovanni Pampanini who became the society’s first President. He gathered a group of scholars in this city to help put together, in 2004, the Society’s first conference. The network of people involved in this area of educational enquiry continued to grow and by the time the second MESCE Conference took place in Alexandria, Egypt in 2006 this society had already begun to make its mark in the international comparative education field. It had become a member of the World Council of Comparative Education Societies (WCCES) and was designated regional host for the 2007 World Congress of Comparative Education which took place in Sarajevo. The idea to host the congress there was proposed by Giovanni Pampanini at the WCCES Conference in Cuba in the Fall of 2004. The Sarajevo congress was soon followed, between 11-13 May, 2008, with the largest MESCE conference to date, held this time in Malta. This conference drew interest from various parts of the world and not just from the Mediterranean region. Keynote speakers were chosen from different corners of the Mediterranean including the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean and also included the Editor of Comparative Education Review.