Latest news with #BritishCouncil
Fashion Value Chain
5 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Maximilian Raynor Wins UK Jury for R
British designer Maximilian Raynor has emerged as the UK Jury winner for the R|Elan™ Circular Design Challenge (CDC) 2025, India's premier sustainability award for fashion innovation. The win was announced at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, with support from the British Council. The CDC, initiated by Reliance Industries Limited's R|Elan, in collaboration with the United Nations in India and Lakmé Fashion Week, empowers young fashion designers to champion circularity and sustainable design. The UK edition, held in partnership with the British Council, spotlighted Raynor's label for its circular approach—blending deadstock luxury fabrics, local British wool, and vegan apple leather with waste-reducing techniques. Notably, 50% of the brand's revenue comes from rentals and hires. Mr. Rakesh Bali, Senior VP & Head of Marketing at Reliance Industries Ltd., congratulated Raynor, stating, 'CDC reflects our vision to foster a new generation of conscious designers. The UK winner exemplifies innovation with responsibility.' Raynor was selected by a jury comprising Akanksha Kamath, Chelsea Franklin, Muchaneta Ten Napel, and Serva Davis, based on criteria like material innovation, lifecycle impact, energy efficiency, and alignment with the UN SDGs. Raynor will now compete against winners from EU, India, and APAC Jury Meets at the grand finale during Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI in October 2025. The global winner will receive GBP 14,000 seed funding, the CDC trophy, and a six-month mentorship with Estethica's Orsola De Castro, along with a standalone showcase at Lakmé Fashion Week in March 2026.
Arab News
a day ago
- Politics
- Arab News
British Council, Sindh government to train 30,000 teachers, impact two million students
ISLAMABAD: The British Council and the Government of Sindh have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to improve English language teaching in public schools, aiming to train 30,000 teachers and indirectly benefit over two million students, according to a statement issued on Friday. English is a compulsory subject in Pakistan's schools and colleges and remains the dominant language in government, academia and the corporate sector. Despite years of formal exposure, however, many students struggle to use the language effectively, raising concerns about the quality and methods of instruction. The new initiative aims to address these challenges by equipping teachers with inclusive and multilingual approaches that support more effective language acquisition. 'This agreement renews our partnership with and commitment to the people and Government of Sindh,' said James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan. 'Our ambition of supporting 30,000 teachers and 2 million children is a great next step.' Under the agreement, the British Council will deliver its 'English as a Subject for Teachers and Educators' (EaSTE) program to newly inducted primary and early childhood teachers. The collaboration also includes training 1,000 in-service teachers as mentors and deploying a scalable digital Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate continuous professional support. 'Our focus is not just on access but on quality,' said Sindh Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah at the occasion. 'Through this initiative, we are equipping our teachers with the tools they need to teach English more effectively, in ways that reflect the linguistic and cultural realities of our classrooms.' The program builds on the British Council's long-standing work in education in Pakistan and replicates a successful model from Punjab, where EaSTE reached more than 140,000 teachers.
India Today
3 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Why UK is a top higher study destination for Indians
Every year, thousands of Indian students apply to the UK for higher studies, drawn by its globally recognised universities and attractive post-study work opportunities. In 2023-24, for instance, 166,310 Indian students were enrolled in the UK, and the country continues to be a leading destination for those seeking high-quality education and promising universities in the UK offer outstanding subject expertise, hands-on learning and tailored support that can make all the difference to one's academic and career journey. This particularly holds for students seeking real-world impact from their post-study-work Graduate Route Visa, introduced in 2021, has played a key role in helping Indian graduates gain valuable work experience and build careers in the UK, with 70 per cent choosing to stay on after their studies under this recent India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is being viewed as yet another move in leveraging ties between the two countries. 'The India-UK FTA marks a new era of growth for two of the world's largest and most innovative economies,' says Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, the British Council. 'It will redefine the partnership for the next generation, strengthening trade links, supporting jobs and delivering shared prosperity. The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade, already worth 43 billion, by another 25.5 billion, supporting thousands of jobs across both countries.'advertisement While the FTA is focused primarily on trade, education remains a cornerstone of the unique living bridge that connects British and Indian people. Indian students represent one of the largest international groups in the UK, receiving nearly a quarter of all UK Sponsored Study Visas issued globally last year.'The UK is also proud to partner with India on its ambitious plans for the internationalisation of the Indian higher education landscape. The University of Southampton and University of Liverpool have announced plans to open new campuses in India, making it easier for students to gain a UK degree here at home,' says for its high-quality education and globally respected universities, many of which consistently rank among the top in international rankings, the institutions in the UK are also known to offer strong industry links and comprehensive student diverse, inclusive learning environment is another key draw; UK campuses host one of the highest ratios of international faculty and students globally, providing Indian students with a rich cultural experience alongside their studies. And beyond the classroom, the UK offers a welcoming and safe environment, a streamlined visa process, and the opportunity to stay back and work under the post-study work Graduate Route after graduation. These factors make it not only an ideal study destination but also a promising launch-pad for international Barrett points out, 'Strong UK-India educational ties, including collaborative online learning initiatives, further support India's NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 goals and expand access to quality education for millions. The UK's commitment to strengthening this partnership ensures that Indian students continue to benefit from world-class opportunities both on campus and beyond.'In this context, the British Council, through a range of strategic initiatives, acts as a catalyst for collaboration, mobility, capacity building, cross-cultural learning and mutual to India Today Magazine- Ends
Economic Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Malaysia to charge 6% tax on private education for international students from July 2025
Synopsis Malaysia will impose a 6% service tax on private education for international students starting July 1, 2025, as part of revised SST rules. This tax targets private institutions and aims to boost revenue. However, the British Council warns it could impact enrollments in UK transnational education programs and Malaysia's appeal as a study destination, especially for price-sensitive students.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Remembering women lost in time
Some heirlooms glitter in the light, while others sit in old boxes and become heavier with time – not with rust, but memories. There is hidden silence in the objects that we inherit. In the exhibition 'Zaat', London-based artist and gemologist Sonakshi Chaturvedi explores these objects to unveil the stories that they have been carrying for decades. She particularly focuses on the unspoken lives of women who are usually remembered only through the relationships that they fulfill as a bride, mother and grandmother. On view at The Gallery at British Council, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, until July 31, the exhibition is part of Study UK: Creative Connections II and the British Council's Best of British cultural initiative that celebrates international alumni shaping global creative discourse. Chaturvedi's titular sculptural installation Zaat unravels matrilineal memory through the language of heirloom, metal, and meaning. Born in Agra, she completed her MA in Jewellery and Metal from the prestigious Royal College of Art in 2024. Blending traditional craft with contemporary artistic practices, the 26-year-old represents a new generation of artists who are bending the rules. Chaturvedi notes, 'Zaat began as a way to fortify my own nostalgia, but evolved into an act of reclamation — tracing heirloom objects that held the silent resistance of women remembered only as mothers, brides, grandmothers.' She wants the future female descendants to remember their ancestors not just by the roles that they played but as individuals with agency, voice and dreams. The word 'zaat' refers to identity or core sense of being. Drawing from her grandmother's wedding trousseau, Chaturvedi has crafted sculptures that use brass, white metal, cold enamel, resin-based enamel and gemstones to archive her matrilineal memory. 'At first glance, these forms appear worn, metallic and subdued – echoing the weight of tradition and domestic expectation. But within, they burst into psychedelic interiors – revealing a hidden world of colour, desire and youth,' says Chaturvedi. She notes that the dual surfaces are not an aesthetic coincidence; they mirror the lives many women have lived – outwardly dutiful, inwardly wild with colour and desire. Every artefact in the exhibition holds fond memories for the artist. Shareefa Jar, for instance, is a brass replica of her grandmother's plastic jar in which she saved spare change. 'She would let me borrow the money to buy us both kulfis, candies, and custard apples during summer afternoons, when everyone else was asleep after lunch,' shares Chaturvedi. Recalling another fond memory, which is the inspiration behind The Pyaaz Tiffin – brass replica of a traditional Indian tiffin carrier – she shares, 'During vacations, when I stayed with my grandparents, despite her religious and cultural beliefs, she used to chop onions for me to enjoy my meals. It showed her efforts to bridge the gap and keep us connected.' This is represented by the intertwined knot form of brooches in gold-plated white metal and cold enamel. Similarly, other artefacts, including The Anaar Vase, Shahtoot Dispenser and Pyaaz Cooker are inspired by artefacts that were once in her grandmother's possession. Ultimately, 'Zaat' is a conversation – one that moves across generations, surfaces and silences.
