The Scottish Executive operates closely in a number of areas with both British Council Scotland and British Council offices overseas. The following table shows that since 2002 numerous initiatives have been undertaken in cooperation with the British Council. These activities vary from large scale events held in partnership with the British Council to small scale projects on which the Executive and British Council liaise and exchange expertise.
| Date | Joint Initiative/ Event | Description | Duration | SE Expenditure |
| 2002 14 Feb. | British Coucil/ Mexican Ministry of Education Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) by Mexican Ministry of Education during wider visit to UK. Focus on self-evaluation and school inspection. | 1.5 hours | N/A |
| 25-26 Mar. | British Council/ Kuwait Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) during 2 day visit. Focus on school inspection process, inspector training, self-evaluation in schools, and the “How Good is Our School” programme. | 1 day | N/A |
| 4-6 April | “Distilled” – Live Scotland in New York | As part of Tartan Week 2002, a programme of events was organised to showcase contemporary Scottish culture. This included special evening receptions, arts performances, and day-time seminars. | 3 days | N/A |
| May | British Council/ Finland/ UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on quality assurance working group. | 2.5 days | £1,900 |
| Autumn | “Scotland in Sweden” | The British Council put together a programme of events to promote Scotland in Sweden, focusing on tourism, youth, and biotechnology. Key features were ministerial visits, conferences, sporting events, and cultural receptions. | 9 months | Scottish Executive contributed £20,000 toward the BC programme. |
| | “Vocational Partnerships” Initiative | Funding was provided for the British Council’s “Vocational Partnership’s” Initiative to ensure that Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) were fully highlighted in the British Council’s promotional material, including their web portal and promotions abroad. | Scottish Executive provided funds in years 2002/3 and 2003/4. | 2002/3: £30,000 2003/4: £30,000 |
| 2003 Jan. | “Distilled” – Live Scotland in Stockholm. | As part of the British Council’s broader “Scotland in Sweden” campaign, the Scottish Executive organised a 5 day programme of cultural events and arts presentations. | 5 days | £60,000 |
| Feb. | Governance Workshop in Paris | In conjunction with the British Council and the Marie Curie Foundation, the Scottish Executive helped to organise a one day governance workshop. This event included the involvement of Lord Watson and Lord Steel. | 1 day | £2000 |
| 1-6 April | British Council/ Russia Visit by HMSCI | Visit by Her Majesty’s Senior Chief Inspector (HMSCI) to attend Russian-British annual education steering committee meeting. | 5 days | N/A |
| 19-21 May | British Council/ Russia Visit to HMIE Scotland | Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) contributed to part of this Russian teacher training visit. | 3 days | N/A |
| 2-6 June | British Council/ Czech Rep. Visit to HMIE, Edinburgh | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on school leadership. | 3 hours | £250 |
| 16-20 June | British Council/ HMIE Seminar in Edinburgh | Joint seminar by the British Council and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on quality assurance in schools. | 5 days | £3,500 |
| 30 Sept. – 2 Oct. | British Council/ Czech Rep. Visit to HMIE in Edinburgh | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on the school inspection model. | 3 days | N/A |
| Oct. | Scotland in Catalonia | The British Council assisted the Scottish Executive in the organisation of their Scotland in Catalonia education programme. The event was attended by the Deputy First Minister. | days | £2000 |
| 1-7 Oct | British Council/ Russia Educational Conference in St Petersburg | The British Council/ Russian educational conference was attended by Her Majesty’s Senior Chief Inspector | 5 days | N/A |
| 15 Oct. | British Council/ Ministry of Education Dubai Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) by representatives of the Ministry of Education of Dubai. Focus on the school inspection model. | 2 hours | N/A |
| 2004 Feb. | Ministerial Visit to China | Visit to China by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. British Council officials in Beijing assisted in co-ordinating programmes for the Minister to reach all target groups. | days | N/A |
| 9 Feb | British Council/ Ministry of Education Mexico Visit to HMIE, Edinburgh | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on the quality improvement framework for education in Scotland. | 2 hours | £150 |
| 23-26 Feb | British Council/ Czech Rep Visit to HMIE, Edinburgh | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education. Focus on HMIE’s role in Scottish education. | 4 days | £1200 |
| 3 Mar. | British Council/ Argentina Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) as part of a wider visit to the UK. Focus on inspection systems. | 1.5 hours | N/A |
| 22-26 Mar. | British Council/ Argentina, Conference. | Representatives from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) attended Quality and Standards Conference in Argentina. | 5 days | Paid by British Council |
| April | Celebration of the centenary of the Entente Cordiale | The establishment of a formal partnership between the Scottish Executive and British Council Scotland and British Council France to promote Scottish Culture in France. | Month | N/A |
| 16-18 June | “Crossroads for Ideas”, Balathie House, Perthshire | As part of a wider Foreign & Commonwealth Office/ British Council campaign, the Scottish Executive participated in the organisation of a Bioscience Workshop. | 3 Days | £5600.17 |
| June | Global Friends of Scotland - British Council India newsletters. | Global Friends of Scotland features were provided to the editor of the British Council India for inclusion in their electronic and hard-copy newsletter (readership 20,000). | Month | N/A |
| July | Global Friends of Scotland - British Consulate Hong Kong newsletter. | Global Friends of Scotland research and web links on Scotland were provided to the editor of the British Consulate Hong Kong newsletter (produced by the British Consulate-General, the British Council Hong Kong, and Visit Britain). | Month | N/A |
| Oct. | Ministerial Visit to China | Visit to China by First Minister. British Council officials in Beijing assisted in co-ordinating programmes to reach key target groups, including the organisation of a school visit. | Days | N/A |
| Aug. | “Scotland in the Netherlands”, Amsterdam | The British Council made a contribution to the Scottish Executive’s programme of events for “Scotland in the Netherlands” | Days | N/A |
| 13-14 Sept. | International Conference on the Children’s Hearing System: What can you teach us? | With the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and the British Council the Scottish Executive sought views from world experts to help benchmark the Children’s Hearings system in Scotland and to explore what we could learn from them. In preparation we separately commissioned a study on international evidence about decision making and services for children. | 2 days | £20,412.89 (travel, hotel, and food and seminar costs, including facilitator) |
| 8-10 Dec. | “Going Global” Conference | Funding from the Fresh Talent budget was used to support the British Council International Education Conference in Edinburgh. | 3 days | £10,000 |
| 2005 Jan. | Ministerial Visit to China | Visit to China by Deputy First Minister. British Council officials in Beijing assisted in co-ordinating programmes to reach key target groups. | Days | N/A |
| 7-9 Feb. | “Making the Difference: Improving Parents’ Involvement in their Children’s Education,” Edinburgh | International seminar attracting delegates from Europe, Africa, Russia, and South America. This event provided delegates with the opportunity to discuss and compare experiences of parental involvement. Delegates were able to share ideas and learn about the Scottish system and approach. | 3 days | £564 (Ministerially hosted dinner for delegates – 7 July) |
| 14-18 Mar. | British Council/ Argentina, Conference | Representatives from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) attended a follow-up conference in Argentina to discuss self-evaluation. | 5 days | Paid by British Council |
| 2-10 April | Tartan Week, Vanderbilt Hall, New York | As part of Tartan Week 2005, the British Council and the SE organised and staffed a zone within the Scottish Village to promote educational aspects of the Fresh Talent initiative. | 10 days | N/A |
| 18-20 May | UK European Year of Citizenship | Seminar held in Manchester | 3 days | £25,000 |
| 19 May | British Council/ Brazil Visit to HMIE, Edinburgh | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education (HMIE). Focus on quality assurance. | 3 hours | N/A |
| May | First Minister Visit to Malawi | British Council Malawi provided broad cooperation with the Scottish Executive in the organisation of the First Minister’s visit, in the planning of the programme, and with the distribution of information to target audiences. | 5 days | N/A |
| 9 June | Visit of Mexican Minister for Public Education | Dr. Reyes Tamez (and delegation of four) visited Scotland as part of a Scottish Executive/ Foreign & Commonwealth Office organised visit. The British Council helped to organise a dinner for the ministerial delegation and 3 chevening scholars. | 1 evening | N/A |
| 10 June | British Council/ Mexico Visit to HMIE | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) as part of a wider Scottish Executive event to discuss the “How Good Is Our School” initiative. | 2 hours | £150 |
| 23 June | “AfricaWoman” Conference, Edinburgh | The conference heard presentations focussing on the voices, needs, and experiences of women in Africa. The British Council aided the Scottish Executive with the organisation of this event. | 1 day | £20,000 contributed by the Equality Unit to the Edinburgh City Council |
| Aug. | British Council/ Brazil, Conference | Representatives from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education (HMIE) attended this event in Brazil to address a conference on the “How Good Is Our School” initiative. | | £1105.85 |
| 11-12 Nov. | British Council/ Brazil Visit to HMIE, Education | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Education (HMIE). Focus on enhancing access to quality school education. | 2 days | N/A |
| 2005 8 Feb. | British Council Visit to HMIE, Livingston | Visit to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). Focus on the work of HMIE. | 2 hours | N/A |
| May and Sept. | Scottish Schools Africa Challenge | Primary schools competition to raise awareness of education issues in Africa. Winners accompanied First Minister to Malawi. School children from Malawi will make a return trip to Scotland in September. | Days | £33,000 outward mission (inclusive of costs of FM visit). £27,000 inward mission. |
| On-going | Education UK Scotland | An education sector led initiative which aims to encourage collaboration between the education sectors, and to undertake generic promotional work in overseas markets to encourage more overseas students to study in Scotland. | 2003/06 | 2003/4: £50,000 2004/5: £80,000 2005/6: £70,000 |
| On-going | Scottish Executive Education Department | The Education Department provides funding to British Council Scotland for a number of projects: English Language Assistants and Foreign Language Assistants; Fulbright Teacher Exchanges; East-West programme; International Study Visits; and Youth Exchanges. | 2004-5 was the ninth year of this Education Department funding. | £310,000 per year |
| On-going | Prime Minister’s Initiative | International student recruitment initiative. Branded global marketing campaign to encourage more overseas students to make the UK their first choice for study abroad. | Scottish Executive provided funds in each year of the initiative. 1999/00-2004/5. | 2002/3: £152,000 2003/4: £130,000 2004/5: £100,000 2005/6: tbc |
| On-going | Scottish International Scholarship Programme | British Council Scotland has been contracted by Scottish Executive (Fresh Talent team) to manage the Scotland International Scholarship Programme, which offers 22 postgraduate scholarship places to international students from China, India, Singapore, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. | 3 Years – 2005/6 to 2007/8 | £540,000 per year. |
| On-going | Scottish Networks International | The Fresh Talent initiative is providing funding to Scottish Networks International (SNI) to fund 20 work placements for international postgraduates. Funding also funds an additional manager within SNI to lead on activities to support Fresh Talent objectives, including networking opportunities and an annual conference. | 3 Years – 2005/6 to 2007/8 | £75,000 per year. |
| On-going | Scotland-China Links | New funding to enable Scottish teachers and pupils to participate in Chinese immersion courses in China. | 2005/6 for three years | Total funding £335,000 |
| On-going | Liaison Between Global Friends of Scotland and Scottish Networks International (part of British Council Scotland) | The Global Friends of Scotland team meet regularly with Scottish Networks International (SNI) to discuss areas of common interest. SNI have suggested alumni contacts for involvement in the project and have reproduced features from the Global Friends’ website in SNI publications. | Ongoing | N/A |
| Forth coming 9-12 Oct. | Scottish Mental Health Legislation and Human Rights, Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh | Conference proposed to address Scottish mental health legislation and human rights. This event is to be organised by British Council Scotland with cooperation from the Scottish Executive. Ministerial involvement has been discussed, and the Mental Health (Branch 2) is assisting by trawling for speakers. | 4 days | N/A |
