International, comparative and cross-cultural HRD: Challenges for future research and practice

International Human Resource Development (IHRD) is conceptualized as consisting of three distinct strands: international, comparative, and Crosscultural. These three strands informed the thinking behind the selection of the conference theme. The purposes of this chapter are threefold: to outline how international comparative and cross-cultural HRD was chosen as the theme of the conference; to present the content of the keynote speech, and finally, to explore how international, comparative and cross-cultural HRD has developed since 2004. IHRD is about examination of HRD in a world-wide context. However, in 2004 it could best be described as a subject matter in the embryonic stages of its development. Since 2004, steady growth has occurred in a number of the strands that were the focus of the presentation. In this sense therefore, this chapter contributes to the IHRD debate by clarifying the landscape of the discipline in 2004 and in 2011. It describes covered and uncovered topics as well as the research approaches and methodologies adopted by HRD scholars. (5th International Conference on Human Resource Development across Europe: International, Comparative and Cross-Cultural Dimensions of HRD, Limerick, Ireland, 2004) CONTEXT The keynote presentation that forms the core of this chapter was presented at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, Republic of Ireland, on May 27, 2004, at the 5th International Conference on Human Resource Development Research and Practice across Europe. A total of 275 delegates from twenty-nine countries attended the conference. Two particular aspects of the attendees are worthy of mention as part of setting the scene for the conference. There were approximately a hundred delegates from the US, which represents a record attendance for US delegates since the inception of the conference. Second, an invitation was sent to HRD practitioners in Irish MNCs and indigenous firms to attend the conference. Almost fifty HRD professionals took up the invitation. The conference theme generated 240 scholarly contributions.