to facilitate, participate in and initiate a wide range of research projects with comparative perspectives;

to support comparative research in education, and to disseminate  information throughout the region and further afield through publications, newsletters, research activities, including seminars, symposiums, conferences, etc.;

to establish and maintain a wide range of contacts with educational researchers and  research institutions in China, in the region and internationally;

to provide a centre upon which institutions and organisations within the region can draw for human and other resources for contract research, consultancies, and training in research methods.