What are the new programmes of the British Council?
Our relationship is all about culture. So we are developing a new programme called Connections Through Culture, which will be launched in April 2010. This programme connects artistes from the UK and India. That is a new and important activity, which gives travel grants to people to visit India. From our initial exchanges we know that it is going to be popular.
How is the Council reacting to climate change?
We now have a network of climate champions. They are aged between 18-21 who were selected after a competition in which they demonstrated their project ideas. We give them a platform to pursue their idea locally and also to connect to other climate champions.
One from Bangalore is currently in Copenhagen creating awareness through theatre. We provide them with formal structured management training which can be used in any kind of project. In a way it is a leadership development programme that benefits communities through work on climate change.
There are complaints regarding the point based system immigration scheme. Is this going to impact student counselling?
There are more students going to the UK now. We are delighted about that. We assist bona fide students and offer them advice about institutions that are accredited in the UK, because they get public funds and those are the institutions we deal with.
Our job is not on the visa front. So we profile and help UK universities within the parameters of Indian policy. There was some publicity (about the new immigration rules) in the UK due to which our PM said he wanted to have a review.
Currently we are waiting for decisions around that review and know that report is expected in December and the imminent decision is expected.
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