21 September 2017 the British Council officially launched its first English training centre in mainland China. With classes beginning on 20 October, the branch will initiate the British Council’s “myClass” English program for adult learners in Nanjing. The British Council operates in over 80 specialist training centres globally and as co-owner of IELTS (International English Language Training System) works in partnership with the NEEA (National Education Examinations Authority) in mainland China.

Pupils across East Renfrewshire will be getting a helping hand with their language lessons, thanks to the arrival of teaching assistants from Germany, France, and Spain. A number of foreign students will spend the next year helping youngsters in the Barrhead area get to grips with another language. The project is being supported by the British Council, which is the UK’s international organization for educational opportunities and cultural relations.

The renowned Premier Skills initiative run by the Premier League and the British council returns to Cape Town this week as part of their three-year Premier Skills programme. The programme, which started last Saturday and will conclude this Saturday, is taking place at the Ikamva home of Ajax Cape Town with intensive training for 60 grassroots coaches and 24 referees from all over the province.

A trend shared by the world’s top study destinations is the development of national international education initiatives. But what makes for a good strategy? Assimilation with the government and industry, argues a report from the British Council. It adds that strategies which are accompanied with a variety of complimentary policies like residence rights and post-study work, “are essential to the long-term growth and investment in the sector”.

The British Council Caribbean has been carrying out a number of programmes in T&T over the last few months. The council's Caribbean Arts manager Annalee Davis said the implementation of these programmes was a part of establishing and continuing cultural relations between the UK and the Caribbean. She said it's about demonstrating that the UK has something to share and something to learn when it comes to the arts, the creative economy and cultural industries.

The British Council in the Philippines and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently launched the ‘Art for Urban Change’ partnership. The tie-up  aims to contribute to more liveable and creative cities, and includes the creation of site-specific artworks on pumping stations found along Pasig River, a traveling art exhibition, and the creation of a public art advisory group.