British Council, the UK’s international organisation for educational
opportunities and cultural exchange, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Government of West Bengal. The partnership aims to bolster educational and cultural cooperation,
supporting the state’s knowledge ambitions and economic growth by improving opportunities for young
people, quality and higher education, and the creative economy.
The MoU was signed at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2025 in the presence of the Hon’ble
Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee by Alison Barrett MBE, Minister Education and Cultural
Affairs, British High Commission, New Delhi and Director, British Council India. Other dignitaries
present on the occasion included Dr. Manoj Pant, I.A.S. Chief Secretary, Government of West
Bengal; Binod Kumar, Principal Secretary of Education; Dr. Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director East
and Northeast India, British Council and Dr. Andrew Fleming, British Deputy High Commissioner,
Kolkata.
As the British Council celebrates its 90th anniversary in India and West Bengal in 2027-28, the renewed
MoU will continue to strengthen ties and deepen the UK’s partnerships with the state.
Binod Kumar, Principal Secretary of Education, Government of West Bengal, said: “We are
delighted to partner with the British Council, further strengthening West Bengal’s international
collaborations in education, culture and creative economy in order to empower our youth. This
partnership marks a significant step towards educational excellence and cultural innovation, driving
growth and development across the state. Through initiatives focused on enhancing language education,
fostering faculty development, and promoting cultural exchange, we aim to equip the youth of West
Bengal with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.”
Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council, said, “I am delighted to formalise our
partnership with the Government of West Bengal through this MoU, strengthening educational and
cultural ties across the state. With the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s leadership and support, we will advance
higher education collaboration and foster cultural exchange between UK and West Bengal. Together, we
aim to equip students, educators, and creative communities with global opportunities and critical skills to
enrich West Bengal’s knowledge economy and cultural landscape.”
The Government of West Bengal and the British Council have identified key areas of collaboration to
strengthen educational and cultural cooperation –
English Language Learning and School Education will focus on developing innovative
programmes to support quality education initiatives, improving English language teacher skills,
and supporting policy research in mother-tongue-based multilingual education.
Education will involve reforming university curricula, internationalising higher education, and
expanding collaboration through programmes such as the Going Global Partnership. Additionally,
efforts will be made to build faculty capacity, promote gender equality, and enhance student and
faculty mobility.
Sharing of Culture, Creativity, and Ideas aims to improve cultural cooperation, promote cultural
assets, and develop skills within the cultural sector. This will be achieved through initiatives such
as joint projects, networking, and collaboration with major UK and international cultural platforms.
Since 2018, the British Council has worked with the West Bengal government across education,
research, innovation, arts, and culture. The collaboration has delivered microbit coding training to
teachers in 50 government schools, promoted West Bengal’s creative economy, including mapping the
creative economy around the Durga Puja and showcasing the festival in London.
