The Social Organization of CIES Special Interest Groups

Abstract

At the 2005 Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) Conference, held at Stanford University, the OES Board of Directors approved the creation of Special Interests Groups (SIGs). SIGs are small communities within a larger professional organization that provide a forum for the involvement of individuals with shared interests in advancing a field of study. SIGs are a feature in some other professional associations such as the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the American Sociological Association (ASA). The CIES Bylaws (Article V) outline the purpose of SIGs: “[to] promote new research and mentor educational researchers.” The Bylaws stipulate that “any group of 15 or more active OES members may petition to establish a SIG” and that membership dues must be similar across all SIGs and across all members (US$10). As observed by Williams (2008), the Bylaws leave the definition and delineation of the focus of a proposed SIG to the petitioners.