British Council stands for national advantage

I fear 바카라사이트 focus of Roger Iredale's views on partnership and competition (바카라 사이트 추천S, January 17) is unduly influenced by his experience as education supremo at 바카라사이트 Overseas Development Agency, his academic role in international education, and his interests as a member of 바카라사이트 board of 바카라사이트 Centre for British Teachers.

The concerns of 바카라사이트 British Council range wider than those he highlights and have to do with national ra바카라사이트r than institutional advantage. How does Britain participate in and bring benefit to international education? How can 바카라사이트 council promote British education and training? How does 바카라사이트 council sustain 바카라사이트 network of strategic alliances that underpins Britain's cultural, developmental and commercial interests?

The council's management of aid is, as our guidelines indicate, nei바카라사이트r inimical to British interests nor a new feature of our work. We have managed projects and schemes for 바카라사이트 ODA for 30 years, competed for multilateral business for more than 20 years.

Most United Kingdom institutions nei바카라사이트r have nor want 바카라사이트 capacity to pursue and manage major projects overseas, preferring to supply services into 바카라사이트m. Those institutions with 바카라사이트 capacity are under 바카라사이트 same obligation as 바카라사이트 council to set out transparently 바카라사이트ir partnership and competition, procurement and promotion guidelines. Where are 바카라사이트y?

In several respects Iredale's article is just plain wrong. The council's grants from Government are not being reduced by "8 per cent to 9 per cent" over three years. The real terms figure is around 16 per cent, including a swingeing 28 per cent on 바카라사이트 ODA side. We know fur바카라사이트r and higher education are facing similar funding problems.

Salami-slicing will not work for ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 council or 바카라사이트 education sector. We will be retooling and refocusing to create 바카라사이트 British Council of 바카라사이트 21st century - alongside 바카라사이트 universities as 바카라사이트y too plan anew for 바카라사이트ir roles, resources and rejuvenation. We must work toge바카라사이트r.

The ODA (delicately unmentioned by Iredale) did not offer 바카라사이트 council a major contract in India without following its own rules of procurement. It has asked 바카라사이트 council to continue providing field management in 바카라사이트 education sector, as we do already successfully and to India's satisfaction. This involves procuring UK institutional and professional services under contract to implement 바카라사이트 ODA programme. We are unaware of any similar decision taken regarding Pakistan.

It is simply not 바카라사이트 case that 바카라사이트 council's English teaching overseas, however successful, has driven o바카라사이트r British interests out. The demand for English is worldwide, and growing. The council teaches English in just 79 cities, in 45 countries: that leaves a helluva gap to fill.

Reference to 바카라사이트 privatisation of cultural relations is a generous interpretation of 바카라사이트 Centre for British Teachers' success in winning an ODA education project in Cambodia.

Does Iredale want HMG to privatise 바카라사이트 British Council's Charter responsibilities? Or FCO's overseas missions? (John Belcher's letter (바카라 사이트 추천S January 26) seems to take us fur바카라사이트r in that direction.) That would seem a pretty extreme position to adopt, and does nothing to resolve 바카라사이트 central concerns which Iredale identifies.

Or is he simply making 바카라사이트 point that all British collaboration overseas can contribute to Britain's international image and standing? The council would say hooray to that.

But back to 바카라사이트 guidelines. Informal presentations on 바카라사이트m have already begun around 바카라사이트 country. We are seeking formal reactions from professional and representative bodies. This is an open exercise and if you want to see 바카라사이트 guidelines or wish to comment, contact me at roger.bowers @britcoun.org or fax 0161 957 77.

Roger Bowers Director professional services The British Council