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The British Council has been in Singapore since 1947 and we are proud to have grown with the country. Here are some highlights of our growth:
In 2009, the British Council celebrates 75 years of cultural relations with a range of events and activities.
We celebrated our 60th anniversary in Singapore in 2007 and held a contest to look for Singapore’s favourite word. More than 5,000 people voted. ‘Love’ was Singapore’s favourite English word.
Over the years, we expanded our physical presence to cover four centres and broadened our range of services. We promote collaborative links in the arts, science and education between the UK and Singapore, attracting students to study in the UK, providing English language and work skills-related training, as well as administering UK examinations.
We joined with our other offices around the world to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the British Council in 2004. In the same year, we re-launched our Napier Road Centre after undergoing a major refurbishment. We installed innovative Interactive Whiteboards to enrich the learning experience of our students. All our centres are now equipped with these boards.
In 1992, we facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the National Arts Council (NAC) of Singapore and the Scottish Arts Council. This was signed in 1992 by Professor Tommy Koh, then Chairman of the NAC. The MOU was renewed in 2007.
We hosted a visit by HM The Queen Elizabeth II in 1989. In the same year, the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) named the British Council as its approved centre for IELTS.
In 1988, Dr Tony Tan, then Minister of Education for Singapore, officially opened the new British Council. In the same year, British Alumni Singapore was formally inaugurated with full support from British Council Singapore.
Our EducationUK unit was established to facilitate enquiries about studying in the UK.
In 1983, British Council Singapore won a contract from the Ministry of Education to set up the College of Physical Education, which later merged with the Institute of Education to form the National Institute of Education.
During this period British Council Singapore relocated twice, moving first to the Raffles Museum (now known as Singapore History Museum) on Stamford Road and later to Amber Mansions on Orchard Road.
British Council Singapore was closely involved in setting up the Regional Language Centre (RELC).
British Council Singapore was established, with the temporary office located at Empress Place. Paul Abisheganaden was the first Singaporean to receive a scholarship from the British Council to go to the UK.
In 1948, British Council Singapore relocated to its first 'proper home' at the old St Andrew's Mission School building on Stamford Road.
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