Research report | British Council

Trends in soft power 2020-2025

This analysis compares 25 countries and explores how they use cultural, educational, and diplomatic resources to build international influence.

A woman in a wheelchair and a male dancer perform a contemporary duet in a dance studio. She leans forward, holding his hand as he stretches low toward the floor in a dynamic, balanced pose. Studio lights, mirrors, and ballet barres surround them.

Arts and disability in Romania: From fragmented practice to a national framework

This research explores arts and disability in Romania, providing an evidence-based foundation to strengthen cultural participation, representation, and opportunities for disabled people.

Two people are sitting opposite eachother, conducting a speaking test. The examiner has paperwork on the table in front of them.

The role of pragmatic variables and item characteristics of pragmatic speaking tests

This research explores how pragmatic speaking test items, test items that reflect how people use English in real-life contexts, could be incorporated into the Aptis test.

Cultural Mobility and Connection: Ireland and the Four Nations of the UK

This report explores UK-Ireland arts and cultural connections. It makes suggestions to drive growth, insight and partnerships in the cultural ecosystem between Ireland and the four nations.

A group of four young adults sitting in a row working on computers.

Evaluating text suitability for English for Academic Purposes reading assessment: Teachers versus Lexile, Coh-Metrix and ChatGPT

This report explores how expert EAP teachers and tools like Lexile, Coh-Metrix, and ChatGPT judge reading texts—and where their evaluations match or differ.

Human-Nature: Relations, Resilience, Reciprocity

Research on creative collaboration with communities in Malaysia through ethical, inclusive, and sustainable approaches to climate action.

Four primary school students sit on the classroom floor listening to a female teacher.

Creating a school-child-family evaluation rubric for evaluating children's plurilingual and intercultural competence in a Catalan primary school

Through an Assessment Research Grant, this study tested a rubric to assess plurilingual and intercultural competence at a Catalan primary school.

An artist paints a large rectangular canvas outdoors in nature

Regional perception poll on the ASEAN creative economy

This new report explores the evolving landscape and strategic needs of the cultural and creative sectors within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The image is a videogame still showing a scene of bioluminescent plants and organisms by a riverbed.

Arts and technologies in China: Connecting futures

‘Arts and technologies in China: Connecting futures’ maps the landscape of arts and technologies in Mainland China as the country emerges as a global technological powerhouse.

A woman with headphones around her neck and holding a red notebook is walking down a corridor.

Equity and validity in high-stakes testing: Insights from IELTS

Explore how international language tests can ensure fairness and validity for test-takers with disabilities through equitable accommodations.