English in HE is a growth area and the demand for English is apparent. Internationalisation initiatives often mean the adoption of English focussed language policies which impact on teaching, learning and research. British Council aims to promote good quality English in education and recognises that a better understanding of the nature and impact of English in HE is necessary to guide our work. Recent British Council events focussed on English in HE in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Beijing, China, alongside regional research projects have highlighted this.
British Council is in a position to bring UK and international expertise and stakeholders together, commission and disseminate research to a global audience and advocate ‘good practice’ to government, institutions and individuals on English in HE. Internally, within British Council globally, it is necessary to coordinate our message and response to the growth of English in HE and provide guidance for British Council colleagues on our position on the role of English in HE.
To initiate the process of producing a position paper on English in HE, British Council organised a meeting of academics in November 2019.