Our English Language Research team are English language and assessment experts who drive innovation through impactful research in product development and education reform. The team provide technical expertise, advice and guidance on English teaching, learning and assessment worldwide.
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We are extremely proud to announce that Professor Barry O'Sullivan, Director of English Language Research and Impact at the British Council, was awarded the 2025 Cambridge/International Language Testing Association (ILTA) Distinguished Achievement Award. https://www.iltaonline.com/news/news.asp?id=721555
ILTA states: This prestigious award recognises individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the field of language testing through scholarship, professional leadership, and service to the global language assessment community.
Professor O'Sullivan accepted the award at the Language Testing and Research Colloquium event in June, 2026, in Montreal, Canada, with a talk entitled "...and no, Bob, the answer isn't blowin' in the wind!"
A pinnacle of individual achievement, the award is also highly significant for the British Council where Barry leads a team of expert researchers, highlighting our commitment to quality, research-led products and solutions for language teaching, learning, and assessment.
Find out more about each area of research below.
