Journal editors come and go. After some thirty-five years of journal editing, I am now relinquishing my present role as editor of Comparative Education. I began in 1984, when I edited the Oxford Review of Education, at first together with the philosopher John Wilson, then alone. That editorship lasted twenty years, and with the help of a remarkable editorial board, the journal developed during that period into a truly international forum for discussion of the widest range of educational issues. I then took on the founding editorship of Research in Comparative and International Education, an on-line journal which allowed publication of papers with immediate links to supporting data, video clips, etc., and which could publish material in colour. And finally, I agreed to edit Comparative Education when Michele Schweisfurth stood down as editor. I now hand over to Paul Morris, who has been a very active member of the editorial board and who previously edited Compare. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and we are fortunate that the journal will be in his safe hands.
At the same time, the chair of our board, Bob Cowen, is also standing down. He has been a powerful advocate of our field and a tireless supporter of the journal. I expect that the extra time he will now have will enable him to write even more stimulating texts that enhance our understanding of what comparative education is about.
The board of Comparative Education is very active. Decisions about which papers are to be published are taken by the whole board, with each paper having three detailed reports written on it and each in the ‘revise and resubmit’ category being ‘mentored’ by one of the board members as it is revised. This collective approach to decision making is one of the journal's greatest strengths. I pay tribute to the extraordinary investment of time and energy that each board member makes to ensure the smooth running of Comparative Education.
Lesley Wheway continues as our efficient editorial assistant. Without her control of the mass of material that the journal deals with, the editor's role would be impossible. For the time being, I shall now resume the role of chair of the editorial board.