Alison Barrett
@albarrett09
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Country Director @inBritish not v active here now, pls follow me on insta @alisonbinindia or LinkedIn on https://t.co/eLGZSJhWc8
New Delhi, India
Joined February 2011
If you missed the incredible performance from @MariMathias14 and @SeyieChuzho at the inaugural festival of @tourismhornbill then join us again tonight at 5pm. Thanks to @AlongImna and @abumetha for making it happen! . @walesintheworld @WalesinIndia @BCouncil_Wales @dcfrombc
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Super lucky to spend time at the #Animal film shoot yesterday and meet the incredible #RanbirKapoor - can’t wait to watch the movie!
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#Hampi was even better the second time around thanks to our wonderful @ASIGoI trained guide, Hussein, who made sure @CScottFCDO and I experienced all the best monuments ….
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@Bihar_Museum did not disappoint: state-of-the-art, child friendly, extensive collections beautifully curated . lots to learn. Thank you to DG Dr Kumar Singh for a brilliant visit. I’ll be back! @inBritish
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The ancient site of #Nalanda was the birthplace of Sariputra - one of the disciples of #Buddha - and where the residential monastic University of #NalandaMahavira once attracted students from across Asia from 5th to 12th century. The site is still beautiful even now.
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Congratulations and welcome to our new British High Commissioner to India, @Lindy_Cameron - the first woman to be appointed to the post 🙌.
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Delighted to meet the incredible Shekhar Kapur, film director of two of my favourite films - Bandit Queen and Elizabeth.
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So proud to be representing the UK and @inBritish in India - a country I know and love! #UKIndia.
A warm welcome to @albarrett09 , our newly appointed country director for @inBritish . She is already winning our hearts - watch this video 👇👇
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READ: Australia’s Deakin University set to become the first foreign varsity to set up campus in India.
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Delicious treats in Mainak Chowk and Bhadra Fort in Ahmedabad: traditional #GujaratiThali, tamarind sweets, grapes from Maharashtra and fresh sugarcane - skillfully cut.
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Who better to discuss cultural and educational links between India and the UK with than Director of Nehru Centre in the UK and British Council global experts in Education and the Arts? Wonderful evening thanks @authoramish @Maddalaine #CortinaButler
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Come and visit @BritishCouncil at #TheClimateConnection Pavilion 91 in Hall 5 and find out how we’re working with young people through the arts, education and English to tackle the #ClimateEmergency
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This week we celebrated the fantastic contribution that our Director Education, @RittikaParruck, has made to 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 education collaboration over her 20 year career with @inBritish . Our High Commissioner, @Lindy_Cameron awarded her with an honorary #MBE - congratulations!!
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Delighted to welcome UK Prime Minister @RishiSunak to the @inBritish Library & Cultural Centre in Delhi so he could meet some of the leaders of tomorrow ahead of the #G20 starting today. #Education #Culture @BritishCouncil.
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It’s great to be back! #IndiaUKTogether.
Our director of @inBritish has been with us for >25 years. Before India she led cultural engagement for East Asia. We work in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100. It's our amazing people like Alison Barrett @albarrett09 who make it work. 👏👏
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Celebrating #Diwali with the @BritishCouncil team in Delhi was very special for me this year as it was my first Diwali since returning to India. Hoping all your Diwalis are equally special - here’s to another year full of fun and #light!
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One year is a long time, but it’s flown by! . @inBritish challenged me to remember everything we’ve done in the last year. So much has happened - it was impossible to remember everything…. Tell me in the comments what I forgot! #OneDownForeverToGo…
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Celebrating the #coronation in London. Grateful for all His Majesty’s support for the British Council in India. Remembering the day he inaugurated our office in Delhi in February 1992 and when he awarded me an #MBE 2014 for services to teaching and learning of English in India.
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Great to see the scale of @kissfoundation with my own eyes! Free education to tens of thousands of young people from across Odisha state.
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ms @albarrett09 MBE, Country Director (India) British Council at our campus. She was happy to see our progress and wished us luck for the future.
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Wonderful day wandering around London yesterday - always great to come back! I’m in London and Edinburgh this week to discuss with partners how we can strengthen 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 collaboration in #culture #education and #English #IndiaUKTogether #SeasonOfCulture @inBritish
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Congratulations to @iitmadras and @unibirmingham for launch of joint PG degree in data science and AI. Great to see more #HE collaborations between 🇮🇳 and 🇬🇧 emerging after signing of Mutual Recognition of Qualifications (MRQ) last year. @Lord_Bilimoria.
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Big Ben is back - great to see it restored to former glory!
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I’m so lucky to be working with committed colleagues like #MaheshJaiSinghani #AshwinShetty and #AnthonyDSouza who have dedicated a total of 82 years to strengthening cultural relations between 🇮🇳 and 🇬🇧 - proud to hand over their long-service letters from our CEO @McDonaldScott_
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Final farewell to lovely colleagues in Thailand - thanks for making the last 5 years in East Asia so special! Scarf from one of our artisan partners: all natural dyes and handmade in Sakon Nakhon.
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Great discussion y’day between @DalrympleWill and @AKanisetti at the @BloomsburyIndia book cover launch event for William’s new book #TheGoldenRoad . Can’t wait to read it when it launches formally in September. For now, I’ll read Anirudh’s book #LordsoftheDeccan 🙂
We're thrilled to reveal the cover of #TheGoldenRoad by @dalrymplewill. 🎉 Pre-order your copy here: @inBritish
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Happy International Women’s Day to all my amazing female colleagues and partners here in India. Let’s support each other and work together to make a difference for all. #IWD #Equity #StrongerTogether #IndiaUKTogether.
Our director @albarrett09, a language teacher and now a cultural relations leader, is committed to inclusive leadership and language for inclusion, driving equity through scaled interventions especially for women and girls. Stay tuned for more on #GlobalGenderEquality #IWD2023
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Today we celebrated long service awards for two @inBritish colleagues - @AmitavaDatta12 (26 years) and @NeetiSaxena19 (34 years). Thanks to them for their incredible contribution to building connections between India 🇮🇳 and the UK 🇬🇧
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Mahatma Gandhi, Tavistock Square just around the corner from @ucl where he studied law. Also not far from @IOE_London where I studied!
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Delighted to share that I am joining the panel of distinguished Judges at @IGFupdates 5th UK-India Awards 2023 ✨ where we will celebrate the outstanding contributions of those who have strengthened the 🇬🇧-🇮🇳 partnership! #UKIndiaWeek.More here:
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Photo taken from the @BritishCouncil in Stratford, East London. We’re in very good company here!
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Happy Diwali to one and all, but especially to the British Council team who are simply amazing! @inBritish.
The @inBritish team is all ❤️❤️ #DiwaliCelebration #OfficewaliDiwali #DiwaliatBritishcouncil @albarrett09
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Never a dull day at British Council India! . Yesterday our global CEO @McDonaldScott_ and High Commissioner @Lindy_Cameron experienced breadth and depth of arts, education & English work we do with partners to connect 🇮🇳 and 🇬🇧 . And of course we had #chai and #samosas
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Brilliant day yesterday celebrating @unisouthampton groundbreaking announcement. The university was granted licence to open 1st UK campus by @ugc_india in presence of External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and Acting High Commissioner @CScottFCDO
.@unisouthampton is set to become the first British institution to begin establishing a branch campus in India, having received approval from the country’s regulators.
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Spot the nesting swan! . Can you believe this is right in the heart of central London?!
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Huge congratulations @RittikaParruck British Council India’s Director Education, for her well-deserved honorary #MBE awarded for nearly 2 decades of service to UK education in India. Rittika’s deep technical knowledge & commitment to quality education is inspiring! @inBritish.
We’re very proud to announce that two of our colleagues have received honorary MBEs from His Majesty The King for their exceptional service to the UK! ✨✨✨. #KingsHonours
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Brilliant to meet Prof Rob Lynes, Principal Stephenson College & Associate Pro-VC Global for @durham_uni today to discuss #researchcollaboration #partnerships (and share notes on what it’s like to have the best job in the British Council!) @RobLynes @inBritish
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Jaipur flower market is busy this morning. Wish I could share the delicious smell of the marigolds and roses. Flowers are sold by the kilo.
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Importance of alignment between teacher education and learner needs is a hot topic today at #tesolsummit
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Early morning blessings from the temple elephant at #Hampi’s #VirupakshaTemple - here in some form since the 7th century. We’ve been blessed with rain and a cool breeze thankfully 😅 . #UNESCOWorldHeritage
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The concept of sewa - selfless service - is so inspiring. The Delhi Bangla Sahib Gurudwara is a great place to see it in action. Between 30k-60k eat here every day. #LoveDelhi
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Our beloved 30 yr old Maulsari tree was almost toppled during the recent windstorm. Thanks to @AmitavaDatta12 and team who worked with @tweetndmc and @dofwgnctd it’s now standing tall again. We can now enjoy it for another 30 years at least! . #HappyWorldEnvironmentDay
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Thank you @dcfrombc for leading our British Council team in East and Northeast India with such dedication and focus and for making it fun!
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A number of inspiring @BritishCouncil colleagues in the list this year, but would like to give shout out to #TimPhillips who dedicated his career to supporting teachers and teacher educators, and is one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. #ELT #CPD #TeacherDevelopment.
Congratulations to the 2023 Overseas and International New Year Honours recipients. The list includes those who worked on the UK’s response to the war in Ukraine and in the fields of global health and development. #NYHonours.
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We LOVE Holi! Let’s celebrate nature and the arrival of Spring! Before and after shots!! Happy Holi everyone!!
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Revisited #SafdarjungTomb again as hadn’t been for years. It was built in 1793-4 in memory of Safdarjung, Viceroy of Awadh under the rule of the Mughal emperor Mohammed Shah. Followed by the best Sunday lunch in India! #LoveDilli
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Varanasi is home to one of India’s oldest Universities - @bhupro - ranked 5th University in India by #NIRF. Look forward to strengthening collaborations with UK Universities, esp in the arts. Thank you #VC Prof Sudhir K Jain.
Visited @bhupro where @DCMS minister Lord Parkinson met with the vice-chancellor, faculty and students to explore ways to enhance 🇮🇳🇬🇧 collaboration towards arts and culture in higher education. @albarrett09 #G20India #IndiaUKTogether #Arts
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Huge congratulations to the team at @unisouthampton for their groundbreaking news today! . This is a game-changer for the UK-India education partnership.
We’re delighted to announce we’ve been granted a licence to open a campus in India 🎉. Our world leading education, research and enterprise activity will be used to deliver real social and economic impact in both our countries. Find out more 👉
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British Council Delhi now has its own smart bike stop (zoom in)! How many other @BritishCouncil public transport stops are there in the world? I know of one. Answers below!
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Quiet day exploring our new neighborhood in Delhi. One massive change since we left 7 years ago - you can now buy everything via mobile, even from my local veg stall! Apparently 350m users of mobile payments in India and set to double by 2030.
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#AnuThampi leads our schools and skill development work with young people and she’s in her 19th year at @inBritish ! . Yesterday she received a staff award for her unwavering commitment to our partnership with the @premierleague and support for #PM visit during #G20
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Great to connect with @ucl team led by @profgeraintrees and #KirstyWalker here to launch 100 India Excellence Scholarships & new UCL Summer School. Reconnected with Prof John O’Regan, from UCL’s @IOE_London - number 1 for education in @worlduniranking
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My first culinary experience in Lucknow: a huge plate of basket chaat at Royal Cafe and a yummy kulhad chai …
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Thanks @authoramish for visiting @inBritish library and cultural centre today. Fascinating discussion as ever on #culture #history #writing with @CScottFCDO . All your books were checked out but our library manager #AnupamaSaini was delighted to get her own copy signed!
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Lovely to meet VC #ProfSunainaSingh again yesterday. Together we co-hosted the largest conference series for teacher educators in Hyderabad. The last 4-5 years she’s brought her vision of a thriving, sustainable @nalanda_univ to life, combining ancient techniques and modern tech.
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UK 🇬🇧 is the theme country at the 47th #KolkataBookFair - 2nd largest in the world. Honoured to attend inauguration with Chief Minister West Bengal @MamataOfficial & High Commissioner @AlexWEllis . UK is hosting 20 authors. 35 sessions. And much more. @dcfrombc @Andrew007Uk
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India is celebrating #RepublicDay today - beautiful marigolds all across Delhi - Happy Republic Day!
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@britishlibrary Head South Asia Collection #AraniIllankuberan was in Delhi this week for the @MinOfCultureGoI #FestivalofLibraries - great opportunity to show her around the @inBritish library and share ideas for future collaborations! #IndiaUKTogether
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What an inspiring end to an amazing week. Loved chatting to @CW_IndiaTrust fellow @radhika_iy about her beautifully written and important book ‘Fire on the Ganges’ about the Dom community in #Varanasi. Find out more about scholarships here:
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Delighted to be in Maharashtra to sign MOU to kickstart collaborations with 🇬🇧 that will support internationalisation initiatives benefitting students here and in UK. Thanks to Education Minister @ChDadaPatil and Principal Sec @vikascrastogi and my colleague @rashi_rastogi20 #HE
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What an incredible concert - thanks to everyone who made it such a fantastic success! I am sure the young musicians from Nagaland, Chennai and Scotland will remember this forever! #IndiaUKTogether.
Incredible performances by young musicians from @KMMC_Chennai @sistemascotland and #TheSunshineOrchestra made the #ConcertForFriendship such a huge success! We thank @arrahman , the ambassador for our ongoing #IndiaUKTogether #SeasonOfCulture , for gracing the event. @JanakaP
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Inspiring the next generation of students heading to the UK tonight - loved the rich and honest discussion between winners of the #75in75 #Achievers @urvashi01 @mitalinikore @maryashakil and @arora_sanam from @NISAU_UK #StudyinUK @inBritish
#Delhi .Join us this evening for #AchieversDialogues! We along with @NISAU_UK bring you an incredible opportunity to learn from trailblazers, innovators and leaders. Kickstart your dream career journey! 🚀 Register now . #Education
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Exciting week ahead as we welcome the @biztradegovuk delegation led by #SirSteveSmith, UK’s International Education Champion, and representatives from 31 UK Universities to India to deepen education partnerships between 🇬🇧 and 🇮🇳 @inBritish @UKinIndia .
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More celebrations today - Daljit Singh and Annie Parashar joined @inBritish in 1997 - 26 years ago! It was a pleasure to congratulate them today and thank them for their commitment and service to strengthening relations between India 🇮🇳 and the UK 🇬🇧
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Did you know that the talented actor @_AdilHussain was a @CW_IndiaTrust scholar many years ago? . Charles Wallace India Trust grants and scholarships are now available for Indian students to pursue arts and heritage fields of study in 🇬🇧 . Apply now:
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वाराणसी आकर मुझे बहुत खुशी हुई क्योंकि मैंने यहीं हिंदी सीखी थी बीस साल पहले। . यह बहुत ही ख़ास जगह है। 💜
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This year on #InternationalWomensDay I’d like to highlight two extremely driven, knowledgeable and professional women in the @inBritish team. They make a difference to our work and 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 connections every day. #AasthaJindal and #AatreyeeGuhaThakurta
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Huge congratulations to all at St+Art India Foundation for creating such vibrant community art space in the heart of Delhi. @inBritish can’t wait to see our new 🇬🇧 🇮🇳 mural. #CultureConnectsUs
Delighted to join @BritishCouncil Global CEO @McDonaldScott and @inBritish head @albarrett09 at the Lodhi Art District, 🇮🇳's first art district, exploring the stunning murals by St+art India Foundation - making art accessible to everyone. Can’t wait to come back and see the new
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Delighted to witness this groundbreaking education partnership between 🇬🇧 and 🇮🇳 . From September 2025, @unisouthampton will be the first UK university to open its doors to students here in India. @inBritish @McDonaldScott_ @bphillipsonMP @Maddalaine.
Pleased to attend handing over of Letter of Intent to the University of Southampton which will be establishing a campus in India under NEP 2020. This reflects both the vision of elevating our educational standards to the highest global levels and delivering on the education
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Read my #opinion piece on role of arts and cultural exchange in boosting 🇬🇧 🇮🇳 relations and mutual prosperity. @inBritish
#Opinion: "Arts and culture exchanges between India and the UK contribute to economic growth and foster understanding between cultures.". ✍️ Alison Barrett | #HTPremium .
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Pleasure to visit the New Delhi premises of @JindalGlobalUNI - one of India’s 20 #InstitutesOfEminence - and discuss education partnerships between 🇮🇳 and 🇬🇧 with VC Dr C Raj Kumar and Dr Mohan Kumar, Dean Strategic and International Initiatives.
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Brilliant to see our new Foreign Secretary, @DavidLammy visit #LodhiArtDistrict and spend time with @inBritish partners and grantees. Culture is a powerful driver of #InclusiveGrowth and #ClimateAction . 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 artists and designers can make a difference to our futures.
Culture connects us, fuels our dreams, and defines our futures. Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy explains why the UK-India #LivingBridge is like no other. 🇬🇧🇮🇳
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This sounds wonderful ….
Today we announce a new @EmpirePodUK mini-series on the British discovery of Indian cuisine:. Part One:.Punch & Chilli: The East India Company at Table
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Just before the G20 Leaders Summit, the UK PM Rishi Sunak, and his wife Mrs Akshata Murthy, visited us at British Council India. (1/5)
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Where would we be without art and creativity? Thanks to Skinder Hundal Global Director Arts for your time this week - our arts team are doing a phenomenal job and we’re proud you can see the tangible impact they’re making here in India #IndiaUKTogether @SkinsBC
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Our new “Climate Change and Girls' Education: School resource pack” is now available in eight ASEAN languages, an easy-to-use collection of environment-related topics for teachers to use in the classroom: .#TeachingEnglish #ClimateConnection #CCGE
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How about these contenders for #TreeOfTheDay? . Frangipani trees in #Hampi Southern India … the seat of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire . @campbellclaret @CScottFCDO
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Wonderful to reconnect with Acting VC Prof Surabhi Bharati and Proctor Prof Samson at @EFLU_OFFICIAL today to discuss 🇮🇳 🇬🇧 collaboration in #ELT and #MLE. Always a pleasure to visit. Presented copy of @BritishCouncil #FutureOfEnglish research.
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#InternationalMotherLanguageDay panel discussion on now at @inBritish - #AkshataShetty reminds us that preserving songs helps us to preserve indigenous knowledge and culture, esp when a language doesn’t have its own script.
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Great read in @indigo in-flight magazine on Festivals from India. Have you checked out festivals near you on our new website? Or if you’re running a festival, have you uploaded details to the website? It’s free!
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Thought provoking discussion with @sanjeevsanyal and @adrianmutton on digital future of #HE - with the upcoming National Digital University and #NEP2020 focus on innovative credit transfer systems and micro-credentialing, India is seeking to provide cost-effective HE at scale.
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Packed weekend in Lucknow walking through history with some wonderful guides and teachers. Started with the #Imambara built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Duala in the 1780s …
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10 months of collaboration between @NID_India and @EdinburghPrints as part of led to this fantastic exhibition: From Where I Stand explores lived experiences between young people in India and Scotland. Come and see exhibition in Delhi from March 10.
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So, guess which English county I’m visiting this weekend?
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Which country did our global CEO @McDonaldScott_ visit first after the UK elections? . India of course! . And no visit to India would be complete without discussing India/UK #HE priorities with Secretary #HE #SanjayMurthy and High Commissioner @Lindy_Cameron . #MRQ #TNE #research
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#DurgaPuja - a festival of faith, of community and of art…. The best kept secret - time to tell the world! . Thank you #MayorOfKolkata and the whole team at #MassArt and @unesconewdelhi for a wonderful #DurgaPujaPreviewFestival
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Thanks to colleagues from #UKVI for briefing education agents from across India who do a brilliant job supporting Indian students on their journey to the UK to study. If you’re an agent and you haven’t joined our agent’s hub then you’ll find details here:
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Little bit of orange to brighten up our Monday in the office. #matchymatchy #Officeworkorange
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#HappyRepublicDay2024. Festive atmosphere in Delhi today as India celebrates its 75th Republic Day.
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Wandering around London in the sunshine today - getting ready for the Education World Forum which starts tomorrow.
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