Our new IT-based Learning Centre in Kathmandu was opened by Lord Malloch-Brown, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, on 18 July.

Lord Malloch-Brown met Nepali participants in regional projects, including Global Xchange and school links, which is part of DFID's Global School Partnerships delivered by the British Council in Nepal. He spoke with teacher trainers taking part in the English for Teaching: Teaching for English (ETTE) project. This raises English language standards in remote and marginalised communities across the Central and South Asia (CSA) region.

Building networks
The Minister spoke of the value of the ‘extraordinary networks’ built up globally by the British Council, stating that we are ‘enormously important in building people-to-people diplomacy'.

He said that technology in new learning centres is making access to resources more widely available, but behind the technology lies the much broader idea of the importance of sharing knowledge: ‘This will equip young people for the globalised world we live in; in this environment the work of the British Council is ever more important, and I am glad to be here at this important moment in the life of the British Council in Nepal.’

Young learners
The learning centre provides a unique resource for Nepal, with access to nearly 2 million online resources. In common with our 15 other learning centres across CSA, it will be used primarily for developing the knowledge and skills of young people taking part in regional projects. It also provides access for young Nepalis seeking educational opportunities in the UK, preparing for UK exams, or studying at the Kathmandu teaching centre.           

The opening formed part of a week of events demonstrating the role we are playing in education, active citizenship and improving English standards. One such event was a seminar on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, which brought together specialists from the UK, representatives of the Nepali government, the private sector and the international donor community. The first of its kind in Nepal, the event resulted in agreement on recommendations on how public-private sector partnerships need to be taken forward, and how they can work to meet the urgent training needs of the 500,000 young people who enter the job market every year in Nepal.

To find out more about our work in Nepal visit Nepal’s web pages.