The British Council has worked in Greece since 1939. We have offices in Athens and Thessaloniki offering a wide range of services and activities.
We work together with a large number of Greek organisations – Ministries, universities, academic and research institutions and cultural organisations in both the public and private sectors. We have close relationships with the British Embassy in Greece and the British Hellenic Chamber of Commerce.
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide. Currently we have 7,500 staff in offices, teaching centres, libraries and information and resource centres in 233 towns and cities in 109 countries and territories worldwide.
We were founded in 1934 and granted a Royal Charter by Parliament in 1940. We operate independently from the UK government. Our approach is rooted in our commitment to building mutually beneficial relationships – with our partners internationally and across the UK. We believe that the best way to win greater appreciation and understanding of the UK as a trusted and creative partner is to demonstrate a desire to listen to and learn from the people we engage with. Throughout our history – in Suez, in South Africa under apartheid, in central Europe during the Cold War and today in the aftermath of September 11th – this reputation for internationalism and integrity has enabled us to nurture long-term relationships which might otherwise have been impossible.
We engage globally with over 50 million people a year.
We operate in three broad areas:
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Our aim in is to increase international recognition of the range and quality of learning opportunities from the UK, to promote the learning of English, and to strengthen educational co-operation between the UK and other countries. |
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Our aim in is to build appreciation of the UK's creativity and scientific innovation among people overseas and to strengthen their engagement with the diversity of UK culture. |
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Our aim in is to enhance awareness of the UK's democratic values and processes and work in partnership with other countries to strengthen good governance and human rights. |
Find out about our history in our decade-by-decade guide. Learn more about the origins and history of the British Council.
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