British Council Scotland

05/10/2026

From Glasgow to Gujarat! 🌍📚🏅

We’re looking back on an incredible week as a group of teachers from Scotland travelled to India as part of our Glasgow-Gujarat Teacher Mobility Programme.

The Programme was inspired by this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and explores how education, culture and sport can support learning, well-being and inclusion.

The teachers took part in school visits and met with education, sport and government leaders to discuss topics such as sports education, inclusive education practices and the use of digital learning tools.

The group also got a sneak preview of some of the amazing host venues for the next Commonwealth Games in Gujarat, and literally ‘passed the baton’ to young athletes hoping for a place on the Team India squad in 2030!

Our Director in Scotland, Claire de Braekeleer, spoke about the inspiration behind the Programme: “Sport has the power to do much more than bring people together on the playing field. By bringing together schools, teachers and educators from across the Commonwealth, we can help create lasting connections that extend well beyond the classroom and contribute to the wider legacy of the Games.”

Reciprocal learning opportunities are a powerful way for teachers to build future partnerships and share new ideas within their own schools and across the wider education sector.

British Council India

30/09/2026

Are you a primary school teacher in Scotland? Then we want to hear what YOU think about Language Learning in your school!

Our annual Language Trends Scotland Survey is now open and we're inviting all Scottish primary schools, as well as secondary, to take part and help us build a clearer picture of language education across the country.

What do you love and want to shout about? What would you like to change? Tell us and make your voice heard!

🕒 It takes just 15 minutes to complete
📅 New deadline: 9 October 2026

Click the appropriate link below to complete the survey for your school and help us build a comprehensive picture of language learning across Scotland.
Primary: https://ow.ly/1mh950ZISyi
Secondary: https://ow.ly/yinp50ZISyh
Independent: https://ow.ly/y2aX50ZISyj

14/09/2026

07/09/2026

Heading to the EAIE 2026 conference in Glasgow this week? Then come and say hi and chat to our team about all things Erasmus+ and Study UK!

03/09/2026

Calling all Scottish primary and secondary school teachers - our Language Trends Scotland Survey is now OPEN!

Following the findings of our second annual Language Trends Scotland report, we're inviting all Scottish primary and secondary schools to take part in the 2026-27 survey and help us build a clearer picture of language education across the country.

What would you like to change? What do you think works well? Tell us and make your voice heard!

🕒 It takes just 15 minutes to complete

📅 Deadline: 2 October 2026

Click the appropriate link below to complete the survey for your school and help us build a comprehensive picture of language learning across Scotland.

Primary: https://ow.ly/1mh950ZISyi
Secondary: https://ow.ly/yinp50ZISyh
Independent: https://ow.ly/y2aX50ZISyj

26/08/2026

It was wonderful to welcome friends old and new to National Galleries of Scotland for a special networking reception celebrating our international cultural relations work and the vital role of Edinburgh’s International Festivals.

Hosted by our CEO, Scott McDonald, the event brought together cultural organisations, artists and partners from across the UK and around the world. We were also delighted to be joined by Stephen Gethins SNP and piper Malin Lewis, to celebrate Edinburgh’s unique position as a truly international meeting place.

The Festivals season is a magical opportunity for UK and international artists, organisations and audiences to come together and enjoy incredible performances, exchange new ideas and make lasting connections.

This year, we’ve proudly showcased outstanding theatre and dance from across all four nations of the UK to global industry delegates, in partnership with Arts Council England, Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru | Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council of Northern Ireland

Through our programme, delivered alongside Edinburgh Festivals and Creative Scotland we’ve also helped artists and creatives from around the world build relationships with the Festivals and Scotland’s rich cultural sector.

As Scott says, an essential part of our work in Edinburgh is to “support thousands of talented artists and institutions, great and small, on their international journeys.”

We can’t wait to see where those journeys lead next!

03/08/2026

As this year’s Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games draws to a close, we're looking back on a whirlwind of British Council activity to mark the Games' momentous return to the city.

At our Sport For Peace event, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Professor Gayle McPherson of University of the West of Scotland, Jules Murhula from Soccer Without Borders Stephanie Nicolas of United Sports Cyprus and Amy Stewart from Monkstown Boxing Club took part in a powerful conversation about the role sport can play in peacebuilding. Echoing our wider work supporting peace between the UK and other countries, the panel discussed how sport can empower young people to build more peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities.

Joining forces with Youth Sport Trust, our Schools Resource Pack was full of interactive activities to help young people feel connected to the Games, their local community, country and the wider Commonwealth. We were thrilled to have Scottish gymnast Cameron Lynn join us at the launch, ahead of his amazing bronze medal win, and Glasgow 2026’s official mascot Finnie!

Working with our friends at the Scottish Poetry Library, we welcomed Commonwealth Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh for the launch of a new poetry anthology by contemporary Commonwealth poets. Building on links in her work between the River Clyde and New Zealand’s Whangnaui River, Selina also met with Scotland's own national poet, Makar Peter Mackay.

As the Games comes to an end, we're reminded that the greatest legacy of events such as this aren’t only measured in medals, but in the communities they help strengthen and the lasting connections that are made.

British Council

08/07/2026

Our Connections Through Culture grants have kickstarted incredible new collaborations between the UK and countries worldwide.

Take ‘Encaustic Indonesia’ - a unique project rooted in a powerful international connection. Indonesian artist Ria Ekasari undertook a creative residency at the Isle of Portland in the UK, where she immersed herself in ancient encaustic painting techniques using natural beeswax and resin.

Inspired by the UK's landscape and creative community, Ria brought this knowledge back home to launch a public education platform, creating lasting connections between the UK and Indonesia through sustainable art.

Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with international partners. Apply now for our latest round of global arts grants.

💰 Funding: £5,000 to £15,000 per collaboration
📅 Deadline: 12 August 2026, 23:59 BST
👉 Apply here: https://ow.ly/Vt6850ZlCTG

03/07/2026

Calling all higher education institutions! Our Going Global Partnerships are currently offering grants of between £25,000 and £30,000 to support transnational education projects.

Click the links below to find out more about opportunities and funding to help you collaborate with peers internationally:

Closing 6 July: TNE Exploratory grants to partner with 15 countries around the world. Apply: https://ow.ly/LBiz50ZjXlU

Closing 25 August: TNE Grants to partner with India, with a focus on industry partnerships in emerging disciplines. Apply: https://ow.ly/gcJj50ZjXlQ

Closing 2 September: TNE Exploratory grants to partner with Armenia, Bangladesh and Thailand. Apply: https://ow.ly/9KfZ50ZjXlN

Coming soon: Gender Equality Partnerships and Disability Inclusion Partnerships. Register on our Opportunities and Insight portal to stay updated: https://ow.ly/bbf650ZjXlO

29/06/2026

Great to be at The University of Edinburgh recently for the HESPAL Annual Gathering, bringing together scholars, alumni, partners and supporters to celebrate the programme’s achievements.

The Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians scheme is a UK scholarship, developed in partnership with Palestinian universities, to help strengthen the Palestinian higher education sector. Developing sustainable links between universities in Palestine and the UK helps support the next generation of senior Palestinian academics and maintain high-quality international standards.

It’s been amazing to see the programme grow from a cohort of ten to a vibrant community of 256 scholars! Coming together in person strengthens connections and encourages the scholars to collaborate on their work.

And over the past 15 years, Scottish universities have become some of HESPAL’s most valued partners, so it was particularly special to reconnect and celebrate the impact of the programme in Scotland this year.

Harish Lokhun, our Head of Education at British Council Scotland, said, "It has been wonderful to bring the current cohort of HESPAL scholars studying across UK universities together and to host the Annual Gathering for the first time in Scotland. Their journey to study here is testament to their resilience and adaptability and the programme continues to demonstrate how international exchange through higher education can have a positive impact and build lasting connections."

University of Edinburgh Deputy Vice-Principal International and Director of Edinburgh Global, Alan Mackay, added: “As a partner university, we are honoured to host the annual gathering of the Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians Scheme (HESPAL) delivered by the British Council. Through HESPAL we continue to support the development of academics from Palestinian universities who will return to further strengthen the resilience and development of higher education and research across Palestine.”