What research do we do and why do we do it?
At the British Council, our research provides evidence and insight on arts and culture, education, and English language teaching and assessment. We offer leading analysis on how cultural relations work in these areas helps to build trust, foster collaboration, and support international peace and prosperity.
We are on the ground in more than 100 countries and have a digital presence in over 200 countries. This has allowed us to create a unique and global network of policymakers, researchers, practitioners and communities. We collaborate to generate knowledge and insights that shape how we and our partners design cultural relations programmes, and improve teaching and assessment methods around the world. Our global collaborations also allow us to generate trusted and expert evidence that informs policies, creates meaningful dialogue with our partners, and drives positive change in the UK and around the world.
What are our areas of expertise and interest?
Our research combines our knowledge and networks in the countries and regions where we work with our expertise in arts, education and English. We explore how cultural relations, in both theory and practice, plays a role in international relations and soft power.
We examine the role of arts within cultural relations and play a global role in generating insights on how culture and heritage can enable sustainable development, supporting international policy debates such as Mondiacult. Our education and skills research provides a deeper understanding of education systems, policies and operating environments all over the world, and monitors student motivations in Higher Education. We also play a leading role in product development and setting the research agenda for English language teaching and assessment.
Through a cultural relations lens, our research contributes new perspectives on global matters of importance including climate change, decolonisation, peace and security, trust, youth empowerment and gender equality. We also explore the role of digital innovation in arts, education and English, and examine how different audiences interact with our cultural relations programmes.
What are the values and approaches that inform our research?
At the British Council, our values underpin everything that we do, including our research. We do not shy away from challenging questions of global importance, and conduct robust analysis to provide complex insights in accessible ways.
We are also guided by our commitment to learning and knowledge exchange around research practice. We are a part of an international research community promoting an inclusive, globally connected research culture. We draw on our knowledge and expertise as a cultural relations organisation to champion collaboration and co-creation, sensitivity to the research context, and robust knowledge that is aligned to the highest ethical standards.
- Do No Harm: When working with research participants, and particularly children, youth and vulnerable communities, we adhere to strict guidelines to enhance the safety of, and the benefit of the research to, all those involved.
- Conflict Sensitivity: We use our extensive experience working in conflict-affected contexts to ensure that our research minimises any negative impact and maximises positive effects on communities and the broader context.
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We value the role that research can play as a tool for positive change and empowering underrepresented voices. We are committed to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion across all aspects of our research.
- Gender sensitivity: When designing, conducting and using research, we work to address gender-specific challenges and promote gender equity. Our research is informed by our own expertise in gender-sensitive and transformative practices in cultural relations.
- Participatory and creative research methods: We value methods that empower the communities involved in our research, allowing them to engage with and shape its purpose, design and use.
- Open Science: We are committed to working closely with knowledge partners, networks and platforms to ensure that our research is inclusive of, and accessible to, a wide audience.
The approaches that shape our research practice and culture are reinforced by our anti-racism action plan and organisational commitment to decolonise and promote equitable knowledge production. We recognise the power imbalances that exist in the production of knowledge and, in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, we are testing ways in which we can effectively address this and create new opportunities that centre non-western epistemologies. We pursue equitable, trust-based and principled research partnerships, and value the active inclusion of those with direct knowledge of the research context across all stages of the research process.
To learn more, read our research ethics policy below.
Who are our key stakeholders and how do we intend to use our research?
At the British Council, our research helps us bring UK and overseas policy makers, practitioners, researchers and communities together to collaboratively exchange insights and ideas, translating knowledge into action. The value of our research and ability to use it effectively is enhanced by our unique global network, the trusted relationships we hold with policymakers and our partners in Arts, Education and English, and the expertise gained through our 90-year track record in international cultural relations.
- Making our research more connected: We bring together our knowledge and insights across our programmes, sectors, countries and regions to identify and share cross-cutting insights and analysis.
- International collaboration: We engage closely with partners and stakeholders across all four nations of the UK and around the world to develop our research strategy and shape how we design, conduct and share our knowledge and insights.
- Ensuring easy access to our research: We follow the principles of Open Science, embracing linguistic diversity as an asset in all stages of knowledge production, and practise high standards of digital accessibility.
- Monitoring and evaluating impact: We assess the outcomes of our research and what difference it has made to learn, refine, and improve our practice.
What do we intend to achieve with our research?
The research that we conduct supports our ability to foster peace and prosperity through building connections, trust and understanding between the UK and countries around the world.
- Policy: Our research shapes dialogue and informs policies that make a difference to communities globally. This includes providing young people with the opportunity to influence policy decisions that are impacting their lives and shaping their futures.
- Practice: Our research helps us shape the design and delivery of our own cultural relations programmes, and the development of our teaching and assessment products. It supports the day-to-day work of our global partners across Arts, Education and English.
- Business Development: Our research supports the development of new programmes and products and helps us establish new partnerships and deliver services in the UK and around the world.
- Strategy: Our research informs our organisational strategy at corporate, regional, country and sector levels, contributing to our long-term growth and development.
- Thought Leadership: Our research supports our position as a trusted provider of knowledge in Arts, Education and English and a source of leading expertise and analysis on how these sectors support peace, prosperity and equality around the world. It also makes sense of the role of cultural relations in foreign policy debates and international relations.