Historical Education System Data (HESDat)

This technical paper gives an overview of the new data set on education (systems). The historical education system dataset (HESDat) was collected to facilitate a comprehensive description and explanation of the dynamics of emergence, diffusion, and transformation in state education systems. It allows the investigation of the causes of change and reform from a global and historical perspective. HESDat currently contains 63 different indicators on education systems, from state-mandated reforms to policy practice and system performance with a focus on compulsory structures. So far, we collected data for 170 states from the years 1739 to 2020. The extensive historical reach, as well as the inclusion of historical political entities to trace the diffusion of education policy, is a unique perspective that allows the assessment of policy diffusion to an unprecedented extent.