Abstract:

The International Commission on Physics Education (ICPE), also known as C14-Physics Education Commission, is one of the eighteen commissions of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). The International Commission on Physics Education was established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics in 1960 to promote the exchange of information and views among the members of the international scientific community in Physics Education. With the support of IUPAP, ICPE promotes, organizes and endorses international conferences, meetings, workshops and other events aiming at improving the teaching of physics worldwide, mainly in the sixty one countries associated with IUPAP. Distinctively different from the traditional learning societies, the IUPAP’s commission are composed of individual members nominated by the national liaison committees of their respective countries and elected by the General Assembly of IUPAP for a three-year term. Each Commission consists of fourteen members representing the IUPAP member countries, and more broadly, different regions of the world. Like most other Commissions, IC{E-C14 represents distinctive research area (Physics Education Research (PER)). However, the ECPE-C14’s mandate is much broader since it includes also curriculum and pedagogy. ICPE-C14 vigorously advocates for effective research-validated pedagogies, as well dealing with policy issues that vary widely between the countries and regions. The paper presents the core activities of the Commission as an example of global cooperation with the aim of improving physics education worldwide. Both successes and challenges, as well as future directions in changing world are discussed.

Keywords:

Physics Education Research, global cooperation.