The history and Evolution of The British Modern Cultural Diplomacy: the Case of the British Council in Morocco

1. THE HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF
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CULTURAL DIPLOMACY
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H&F CD.
ICD
as Case Study
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2. OUTLINE
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1. Timeline of BC worldwide
2. BC reaches Morocco
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3. BC’s Status in Morocco
4. BC’s Mission in Morocco
H&F CD.
5. Target Audience
6. Fields of Activities
ICD
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3. TIMELINE OF BC WORLDWIDE
 1930s: the setting up of a British Committee for Relations with Other
Countries, renamed 'British Council' in 1935. Working at first through
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British Embassies and High Commissions
 1938 the British Council set up its first overseas operations in Egypt
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and Portugal in.
 1940: The Royal Charter was granted to the British Council.
H&F CD.
 In other parts of the world, seen as an important part of the British
War effort.
ICD
 centers were set up across the country to provide educational and
cultural support to refugees and allied service personnel. The first
was the Polish Hearth in London, in July 1940. After,these regional
offices supported students and visitors from other countries.
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4. TIMELINE OF BC WORLDWIDE
 1950s - a reduction of the large overseas network that
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had been built up during the Second World War, as well
as a decline in government funding.
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 Due to political factors, British Council had to pull out of
Eastern
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Europe, China,Persia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Greece and
Cyprus.
ICD
 Within Europe, the setting up of the Soviet Relations
Committee to develop cultural relations between the UK
and the Soviet Union.
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5. THE ENGLISH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (FOUNDED IN 1957) WAS INCORPORATED
IN 1962 AND THE ENGLISH SCHOOL BECAME THE FIRST CO-EDUCATIONAL
SCHOOL IN CYPRUS.
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H&F CD.
ICD
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6. TIMELINE OF BC WORLDWIDE
 1950s - a reduction of the large overseas network that had been built up during
the Second World War, as well as a decline in government funding.
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 Due to political factors, British Council had to pull out of Eastern Europe,
China,Persia, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Greece and Cyprus.
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 Within Europe, the setting up of the Soviet Relations Committee to develop
cultural relations between the UK and the Soviet Union.
H&F CD.
 1960s - The setting up of the government's new Department for Technical
Cooperation in 1961, responsible for British aid to developing countries, led to
important changes for the British Council.
ICD
 Throughout the rest of the 1960s and up until the 1990s, the British Council took
on an increasing share of responsibility for education programs and student
training schemes in the developing countries of Africa and Asia.
 In the mid to late 1960s, following a period of considerable growth, financial
constraints and the political troubles in the Middle East, Nigeria and Vietnam
forced the closure of some operations, but expansion in Asia and Sub-saharan 6
Africa and renewed activity in Eastern Europe.

7. TIMELINE OF BC WORLDWIDE
 1970s – the so-called 'Heath-Pompidou money’ for new programs of youth
exchanges, scholarships and civic links between the UK and France, followed by
a general increase in cultural and educational activity in Western and Southern
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Europe, with new program
 The rapid development of the countries of the Gulf following the discovery of oil
in the 1960s led to new operations in Oman and Qatar, with expansion in
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Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
 The mid-1970s - new teaching centers enabled the BC to maintain and increase
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its activity independent of the government grant.
 In 1976, a review of all UK foreign policy, including the work of the British
Council, was commissioned by the then Foreign Secretary, James Callaghan.
ICD
 1990s - The fall of the Communist regimes of Eastern Europe at the end of the
led to great demand for English language teaching and for training in areas such
as management and law, with many new teaching centers set up in Western
Europe, East and South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Middle
East.
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8. THE BC TODAY
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 The British Council changed and grew over the 10 years from 2000
and played its part in some of the challenges and innovations of the
21st century.
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 New large scale programs to engage more people in some of the
newer world challenges of climate change, threats to understanding
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between cultures and the increasing pressures placed on societies
through terrorism, immigration and globalization
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 BC is now represented in 110 countries with headquarters in London
and Manchester.
 Its projects reach over 112 million people a year in the UK and
around the world.
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9. 2. BC IN MOROCCO
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 British Council opened in Morocco in 1960 as the the
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UK’s international organization for educational
opportunities and cultural relations
H&F CD.
 It has two offices in Morocco’s most significant cities:
Rabat &Casablance
ICD
 Constituted 90 people based in Rabat and
Casablanca, coming from a variety of educational
backgrounds, comprise 10 different nationalities, and
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represent all age groups

10. 3. BC’S STATUS IN MOROCCO
 It is registered as a charity (non-profit-making
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organization) and as non-political organization which
operates at arm’s length from government
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 It works closely with the UK’s Embassy in Morocco
H&F CD.
 It receive an annual grant from the British Government
and generate revenue selling services such as English
language courses and examinations.
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 Its income in 2004/05 was £475.5 million, of which our
grant-in-aid from the British government was £172
million. 10

11. 4. BC’S MISSION IN MOROCCO
It aims at creating learning opportunities for people in
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Morocco through the provision of quality English
language learning and examinations services.
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It delivers different projects in the areas of
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education, arts, science, and society
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“The British Council creates international opportunities
for the people of the UK and other countries and
builds trust between them worldwide. We call this
work cultural relations” (BC website)
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12. 5. TARGET AUDIENCE
The British Council focuses on three main areas: Language, Arts, Science
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 Moroccan Students, starting from the age of 6
 Young Professionals
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 Artists
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 Academicians
 Writers
ICD
 NGOs in the Area of Education
 Universities
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13. 6. FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES
A. Students
 English Language Teaching: Over 7000 Enrollment annually
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 Testing: ELE / IELTS / School Exams / PAE
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 Workshop: Writing and Drama workshops for university Students and
Novice teachers
H&F CD.
 E-learning & E-conferences
 Subscription at British Schools in the UK
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 Subscription at British Schools in Morocco: Such as Sunderland
University in Casablanca and Rabat
 Providing Grants & Scholarships: Chevening Scholarship
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14. BRITISH COUNCIL CONNECTING
CLASSROOMS PROJECT –
HAMPSHIRE, UK -
TADLAAZILAL, MOROCCO
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H&F CD.
ICD
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15. FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES …
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B. Leadership Programs
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 Internships within the the BC facilities: a couple of inters
are enrolled annually to forester their professional skills
at one of the BC offices,
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 Workshops on various communication Skills: such
Public speaking, citizenship, ELT
ICD
 Seminars on various academic Issues: Intercultural
Bridging, Islam and the west
 Lectures by British Visiting scholars 15

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17. FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES …
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B. Leadership Programs
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 Professional Development in Leadership, Business
managements: New Scheme Help Unemployed
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 CLTA Certificates for Future ELT Moroccans and
foreigners
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 Lectures by British Visiting scholars
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19. FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES …
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C. NGOs
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 Working with a number of NGOs, specializing in
Education and Women Right and Media Advocacy:
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e.i.: MATE
 Building up partnerships with Moroccan
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Universities, such as the IbnZohr University of
Agadir
 AMEADIST 19

20. REFERENCE
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 http://www.britishcouncil.org
 http://www.britishcouncil.org/morocco
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 http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rmays.hants.sch.uk/_files/image
s/Community/EF51608EC8A5845DEB4C20C16466A630.jpg&imgrefurl=http://w
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H&F CD.
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THANK YOU!