The British Council is making its biggest push on education promotion and opportunities, Alan Gemmell, Director, British Council India, has said.
Mr. Gemmell, who recently took over as Director, was addressing press persons on his first visit to Kerala on Wednesday.
Fifty students from the United Kingdom (U.K.) would visit the University of Kerala for a short-term course in Indian studies in August. In all, as many as 500 young people from the U.K. would come to India this year to study, teach, and work.
Highlighting a 50 million pound five-year research fund called the Newton Fund set up to increase research collaborations between universities in the U.K. and those in India, he said he was keen on research partnerships with the University of Kerala.
An education fair to be held across the country, including in Kerala, later in the year would see participation of 50 U.K. universities.
However, it was not a one-way affair, Mr. Gemmell emphasised. This year, the council was awarding its largest ever number of scholarships for Indians to study in the U.K. As many as 500 scholarships were on offer.
He said his meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan would focus on the government’s plans to invest in education.
He would also talk about the British Council’s programmes in the State, including a programme to support the employability of 3 lakh college students by improving their English language skills.
Source: The Hindu