British Council Triennial Review published
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office today published a review of British Council. It found the Council makes a significant contribution to the UK’s international reputation.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office today published the report of the Triennial Review of the British Council which was launched in July 2013 as part of the government’s ongoing review of non-departmental public bodies. The review concluded that the British Council was a valuable asset to the UK as a promoter of the English language, UK education and culture, making a significant contribution to the UK’s international reputation.
To improve transparency and accountability, the Review recommended that the British Council should strengthen its connections with UK government departments and other bodies representing British interests overseas to maximise the work it does to promote Britain. To address concerns around competition issues, the Review recommended exploring alternative delivery models for commercial activity. To this end, a cross-Government Steering Group will start work in July 2014, to assess options and make recommendations to Ministers about a future operating model within the few months, to ensure the British Council can continue to effectively bring benefits to the UK.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Hugo Swire, said:
I welcome this review. It recognises that the British Council is a great asset for the UK around the world. Through its work promoting the Arts, the English language and our education system, the Council plays a vital role in encouraging people to come to the UK to visit, study and do business. I also recognise that there is work the British Council can do to be even more effective for the UK, and I look forward to working with them, in line with the Review’s recommendations, to take this forward.
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