Advisory groups
To assist us in the quality and independence of our thinking, we rely on the expert advice of the UK Country Advisory Committees and three Sector Advisory Groups for Education and Governance, English, Science and Engineering. Members of these committees and groups serve in an advisory capacity and have no decision-making responsibilities.
Sector advisory groups
The sector advisory groups operate within a wider advisory function that includes the country advisory committees.
Read the criteria (pdf 15kb) for identifying members of sector advisory groups.
Purpose and objectives
The functions of the sector advisory groups, as set out in their terms of reference, are to:
- comment on opportunities, trends and issues of long-term strategic importance for the British Council
- support the British Council in developing large scale global initiatives by acting as a sounding board and by stimulating new ideas
- provide up to date information on major developments within the UK and help the British Council establish contact with relevant individuals and organisations
- act as advocates of the British Council in the UK
- participate as appropriate and required in supporting specific British Council projects/initiatives
Find out more about the Sector Advisory Groups members (pdf 24kb).
UK Country Advisory Committees
The UK Countries Advisory Committees operate within a wider advisory function that includes the sector advisory groups. There are currently UK Countries Advisory Committees in: Scotland; Wales; and Northern Ireland (pdf 36kb).
Find out more about the UK Countries Advisory Committees members (pdf 74kb).
Purpose and objectives
Each UK Country Advisory Committee aims to:
- Further the purpose of the British Council (to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people worldwide) in collaboration with the local British Council Director in the context of the Council’s work.
- Ensure that the British Council office in each UK Country is kept informed of major developments in the public, educational, economic and cultural life of each respective UK Country.
- Serve as channels of professional advice within the areas of expertise represented on the Committee, keeping the British Council informed of major developments, offering fresh insights and identifying new opportunities.
- Bring to the attention of the British Council Director in each UK Country opportunities for activity that might achieve the Council’s desired outcomes of meeting the need for more intercultural dialogue, creating opportunity via the knowledge economy, and tackling climate change.
- Provide input to each British Council UK Country Plan, and monitor the achievement of plan objectives.
- Provide access to communities within the UK Country for whom the British Council’s work has relevance.
- Act as an advocate for the British Council’s work in each UK Country and across the UK as a whole.
