Scott McDonald

I visited the British Council team in Kyiv this week after the bombing of our office. I could feel their anger, defiance and determination to continue with our important work.

Today, a coalition comprising senior political, defence, security and military figures addressed a letter to the UK Prime Minister. They urged the UK Government to invest in the British Council, the UK’s soft power agency, in light of increasing national security challenges.

On TV Poland World talking about soft power and the long tradition of the British Council.

Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=OR8lq0…

Delighted that Lubaina Himid RA, CBE has been selected to represent the UK at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026. The Turner Prize-winning artist will showcase a significant solo exhibition of new work at the British Pavilion, commissioned by the British Council.

A Global Soft Power Index shows China overtaking the UK for the first time. The US remains the top-ranked nation, while the UK dropped to third in the survey, from @BrandFinance.
Our own research confirms that while the UK is still considered a ‘soft power superpower,’ this position is under threat.

In #Iraq, education specialist Ibtisam Al-Kaabi has used training from our #SchoolsConnect programme to introduce human rights education and democratic student engagement in schools across the Afek District. In agreement with the Federal Ministry of Education, we expanded the initiative nationwide.

I joined the Goethe-Institut to present at the #MSC on the role of culture in security. Johannes Ebert and I were joined by Ana Riaboshenko from Georgia. We discussed disinformation, community cohesion and reputational security as parts of the battle for national identity across the edge of Europe.

New honorary awards:
Liudmyla Tatsenko – former Head of Education Ukraine, British Council, MBE for services to UK/Ukraine cultural relations.
Dr Elke Ritt – former Head of Arts Germany, British Council, MBE for services to the promotion of UK arts in Germany.
Congratulations to you both.

Congratulations to Minerva Rodríguez, our Country Director #Cuba, who was awarded the highest distinction in culture ‘El Zarapico' by the Government of Villa Clara Province.
The award was made to Minerva and her team for their contribution to cultural and educational development in the province.

The BBC and British Council brought together people from 119 countries to learn about deep listening. Now, an academic article based on the project has been accepted in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology. Congratulations to Emily Kasriel.
Paper: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

What is the point of the British Council? Founded more than 90 years ago, the institution is in dire financial straits. But it’s a vital soft power tool – not an expensive indulgence

Good article on the British Council with some wonderful history.

www.telegraph.co.uk/art/artists/...

We provide thousands of English language examinations worldwide. We rely on many people behind the scenes working hard to ensure everything is set up for test-takers on their big day. Great to see our team in #Nepal bringing together their teams to recognise and celebrate their contributions.

I dropped into the British Council Delhi office on Friday to share some Masala chai with the team and caught up on all the work we are doing connecting the UK and India. On Saturday, we had a little look around Delhi.

Our team in India was honoured to welcome HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Prince Edward to our New Delhi cultural centre to open the second edition of the School Education Conference, which was organised in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education.

For 18 years, the Premier League and the British Council have partnered through the Premier Skills programme, empowering coaches, educators, and referees.
We recently delivered a #PremierSkills course to launch a new facility in Gansbaai, #SouthAfrica.
More here: premierleague.com/news/4235091

We've sealed a partnership with UNICEF Egypt to create a framework for the national English curriculum in #Egypt.
Together, we will leverage our technical expertise and extensive networks to embed principles of gender equity, inclusion, digital innovation, and sustainability into the curriculum.

The British Council supported Budoor Al Abid to make a short #film called 'The Marshes of Iraq'. The film has received global attention. It's a beautiful film, which looks at the damage #climatechange is wreaking on an ancient way of life in #Iraq. See the film here: bit.ly/4af0jzS

The British Council in #India has been running very successful Culture Fridays at our libraries in the country. They recently screened The Beatles and India and were joined by the film's director, Indian author and political journalist Ajoy Bose.

The Guardian view on the British Council: cherish and preserve | Editorial Editorial: Financial struggles dating back to the pandemic are imperilling the future of a bastion of soft power. The government should find a way to help

Impossible to agree more. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Our flagship CPD programme in #Egypt – Teach Engage Inspire - is wrapping up its third year.
An exciting new CPD programme is planned for Egypt, offering the same quality and innovation. I’m looking forward to seeing it build on the success of Teach Engage Inspire.

Meet Bashair Abdallah. She's been with us for 7 years, in our Sudan office, demonstrating resilience and commitment keeping operations going despite the war. She is now in Egypt, promoted to Finance Manager for a programme strengthening the capacity of teacher training institutions in Sudan.

We launched our International School Awards in 1999 and have recognised over 6,000 schools since then. The ISA empowers schools to cultivate an international ethos and global perspective. The Awards were celebrated by teachers, students and MPs at the House of Commons.

Congratulations to @exeter.ac.uk - the first member of the UK’s Russell Group to establish a branch campus in Africa. We're proud to have supported the partnership with Ain Shams University in Cairo, which will offer Exeter undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

I am delighted to be on the UK Soft Power Council. It is an ambitious and laudable initiative. The British Council needs to play its part supporting the UK government and the UK's remarkable strengths across sectors as we lead the way on creating modern partnerships. More: www.gov.uk/government/p...

We've just launched our UK-Ukraine School Partnerships programme with @educationgovuk and @literacy_trust - connecting 50 UK and 50 Ukrainian schools to share the joy of reading! 

Find out more: bit.ly/40BF9Zv

Our first collaboration with the BBC was a TV programme ‘Walter and Connie’ in 1962. Journalist @JoMcDermott, whose dad Brian played Walter, has made a radio show about the BBC’s teaching of English abroad and she's uncovered some wonderful facts about the programme. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Our music team works hard to support the UK's music industry to develop international connections. We've created a new podcast series, Selector Behind the Music, for everyone working in the industry. Listen here: music.britishcouncil.org/selector-beh...

We celebrated Sir Philip Barton as he retires from the FCDO. For over 30 years, Philip has been an outstanding public servant and diplomat. All of us at the British Council will miss his guidance, challenge and support. He has been an incredible partner and we wish him well on his next adventure.

We’ve been working in #Uzbekistan since 1996! Our team is doing great work supporting Uzbekistan’s reform agenda. We’re collaborating with the #HE sector and providing #CPD for schools. And our Creative Collaborations grants are helping Uzbek #artists team up with the UK to develop new arts events.

The Welsh Government has launched #WalesandJapan 2025. The programme will strengthen economic and cultural partnerships between the two countries. As part of the programme, the British Council will partner with Wales Arts International to launch a £150k arts fund, supported by the Welsh Government.