Singapore and brunei darussalam: Internationalisation and globalisation through practices and a bilateral mathematics study

Abstract

Internationalisation and globalisation involve many aspects. The first section of this chapter illustrates these aspects through practices of mathematics education in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, including adapting global ideas about mathematics curriculum to local contexts, upgrading local publications to international level, and use of English as the main medium of mathematics instruction. On the other hand, comparative studies are often the medium through which both internationalisation and globalisation can take place. Many comparative studies such as TIMSS and PISA are multi-national and focus on students' performance on mathematics items designed by panels of mathematics educators from different countries. In contrast, the second section describes a bilateral study between Singapore and Brunei Darussalam about pupils' perceptions of mathematics learning. This study was a unique form of internationalisation because it was situated within a broader research agenda, with the noteworthy feature that mathematics educators met with non-mathematics educators to discuss education issues common to both countries. Despite wide differences in racial, cultural, and economic makeup, mathematics education in Singapore and Brunei Darussalam shares many similar practices. This chapter concludes with reflections about future issues of the internationalisation and globalisation of mathematics education © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.