Reflecting on 90 Years of Cultural Relations and Global Engagement
Join us for a thought-provoking session that explores the British Council’s impact over nine decades, through the lens of its landmark 90th anniversary oral history project.
The session will be led by James Perkins, Head of Research Excellence at the British Council, who coordinated the Oral Histories: The British Council in Action project and has written extensively on it.
To mark the British Council’s 90th anniversary, oral history interviews were recorded with former colleagues and global partners, capturing reflections on the organisation’s purpose, impact, and reach across diverse contexts. Now archived at the British Library, these interviews complement a similar collection from the 75th anniversary.
The session will feature Amol Padwad, a project interviewee and renowned ELT expert from India, who brings over four decades of insight into cultural and educational exchange.
Together, these collections offer a powerful opportunity to reflect on the changing nature of international cultural relations. We invite you to join this meaningful conversation—looking back to better understand the road ahead.
Session outcomes:
- engage with key themes and insights from the British Council’s oral history collections
- reflect on the organisation’s role in international education, arts, and cultural exchange
- understand how personal experiences shape and reflect broader institutional histories
- consider the role of cultural relations in addressing contemporary global challenges
- hear expert perspectives on the future of international collaboration in a rapidly changing world
Date: Friday 11 July 2025
Time: 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. UTC
Eligibility: Members and non-members ,18 years and above .
This session is ideal for educators, researchers, cultural professionals, and anyone interested in oral history, international relations, and the transformative role of cultural engagement.
Platform: Online
Fee: Free
For more information, please write to us at digitallibraries@britishcouncil.org