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1970s key dates 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 Read the rest of the story of the 1970s and 1980s 1970 Joint Working Party of the British Council, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Overseas Development Administration (ODA – the successor to the Department of Technical Cooperation) to agree future cooperation on educational and technical assistance programmes in developing countries Back to the top 1971 Increase of work in the Gulf, with new offices opened in Oman and planned for Qatar, and expansion in Dubai and Bahrain Development of youth exchanges, scholarships and civic links with France as a result of Prime Minister Edward Heath’s visit to Paris in 1970 Back to the top 1972 Additional Government funding made available for expansion of cultural and educational contacts with continental Europe Great Britain-China Committee set up and new exchange programmes with China initiated Back to the top 1973 Europalia’ Festival to mark Britain's entry to the EEC, with contributions managed by the British Council Start of British Council activity in the USA, based in the British Embassy in Washington DC Back to the top 1974 Closures in Belize, Guyana, Uruguay and Venezuela Move to new headquarters in Spring Gardens Start of Paid Educational Services (PES) contract work in the OPEC countries of the Middle East and in Venezuela Back to the top 1975 Plans to increase the direct teaching of English, particularly in Southern Europe and the Middle East First PES contract for the development of the English Language Centre at King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Rhodesian African Training Department set up to manage ODM-funded awards for black Rhodesian students in the UK Venezuela office reopens in order to manage PES work there Back to the top 1976 Foreign Secretary James Callaghan commissions the Central Policy Review Staff (the 'Think Tank') to review the UK foreign policy, including the British Council Back to the top 1977 Berrill Report published by the ‘Think Tank’ recommends the abolition of the British Council Creation of Visiting Arts Unit for bringing arts events from other countries to the UK Start of ODM-funded Key English Language Teaching (KELT) scheme to develop ELT programmes in developing countries Back to the top 1978 New office opens in China, based in the British Embassy Government Review of Overseas Representation rejects conclusions of the Berrill Report Back to the top 1979 Closure of regional offices and teaching centres in Iran and evacuation of nearly all staff in the wake of the Revolution Withdrawal from Malta at the request of the Maltese Government Proposed future cuts to Government funding lead to closure of libraries in Nigeria and of  the programme in Costa Rica after only 11 months’ operation Back to the top

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