Generation UK - India
36 Teaching Assistants visit Chennai for a 3 day induction programme
23 September 2015: The British Council conducted a three day induction programme for 36 Teaching Assistants in Chennai at the Residency Towers from 21 - 23 September 2015. This batch of Teaching assistants complete the programme for this year which builds a further expectation of bringing in Teaching assistants to increase student outward mobility from UK to India. The placements will vary between 2 to 6 months in various schools in India and they will be teaching various subjects and skills across.
Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council South India hosted a networking reception. The programme was attended by Bharat Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai, Dr. Amudhavalli, Director, ICOM (International Centre for University of Madras), Dr A Azad, Director, Centre for International Affairs, Anna University.
“Whatever you do in your future lives you will take this cultural experience and the relationship you build with India will stay with you ” Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council South India told 36 teaching assistants from the UK who reached Chennai as part of the Generation UK-India programme. She mentioned the importance of people’s relationship which this programme builds and connects people at a young age, emphasizing that this journey will be a learning and sharing experience.
“The energy, excitement and enthusiasm of the young people from UK taking part in the Generation UK-India Teaching Assistant programme was incredible. The integration between the host schools from 18 different states in India and 36 young people from different cities in UK was very exciting. It’s a great Initiative from British Council and Generation UK-India will help the younger generation to build a stronger relationship between the India and the UK, with exposure to Indian culture, Indian companies and Indian education” said Bharat Joshi, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai.
The 36 students and graduates are part of 500 UK young people and professionals who are coming to India this year as part of Generation UK-India which aims to promote international experience and build engagement and trust between the UK and India. Over the next 5 years, the British Council will work with partners to support up to 25,000 young people and professionals from the UK to gain experience in India. The programme has three strands, teaching assistantships, work placements and cultural immersion placements which are supported by UKIERI (UK –India Education and Research Initiative) and delivered by IndoGenius. The programme will also work with UK and India universities and organisations to support more mobility between the two countries.
Although many Indian students spend time studying in the UK, fewer of their counterparts make the journey in the opposite year. In the first year of the programme, Generation UK-India has begun to change this and has raised the profile of mobility to India as well as increasing the opportunities available.
The British Council hope that this will be the first of many successful years of the programme which will continue to build excellent relations between the UK and India.
For more media information contact: Rajeswari Pradeep Kumar, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications (South India) at Rajeswari.PradeepKumar@britishcouncil.org.
Videos: Generation UK-India: Gain experience and skills in India http://youtu.be/UXOF8CDy1xE
Generation UK-India FAQs
What is Generation UK-India?
Generation UK-India is a new large scale outward mobility programme launched by the British Council in November 2014. Working with partners in the UK and India, the British Council aims to encourage up to 25,000 young people from the UK to gain professional and academic skills and experience in India over the next 5 years.
This programme will build on the successful Generation UK initiative in China and the UKIERI Study India programme and will align with the strategies of UK Government and universities to increase outward mobility among young people in the UK.
What will be the opportunities through Generation UK-India?
Programme structure
Generation UK-India aims to provide more opportunities for young people from the UK to gain experience and skills and connect with India by creating the following opportunities:
Cultural Immersion placements (400 placements)
Two week placements offering participants the chance to experience institutions work in India and engage with peers to build an understanding of and connection with India. Activities include workshops, lectures and panel discussions hosted by academic and industry experts, as well as group challenges.
Funded by UKIERI and delivered by IndoGenius we are offering 400 cultural immersion placements across 3 different programmes in 2015:
Study India (300 places) – introduction to contemporary India studying economy, history, culture and current affairs
Make in India (60 places) – a focus on India’s manufacturing industry from high end technology to rural artisans
Digital India (40 places) – exploration of India’s technology and innovation ecosystem whilst developing entrepreneurship.
Teaching Assistantships (100 places)
Role: Teaching placements in Indian private schools teaching a range of subjects including English and offering participants the chance to develop their teaching skills and share knowledge about UK culture.
Duration: Placements start in July, August or October for a period of 2 or 6 months.
Host schools: 55 Indian private schools will host 100 Teaching Assistants from the UK.
They are from 18 states across India:
Puducherry, Punjab, Delhi, Odisha, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharastra, Adra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telengana, Jammu, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu
We are also working with KPMG to place assistants in 5 schools they support.
UK participants
435 candidates applied from the UK from 88 different UK institutions.
Work placements
Developing a 2 month internship with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
10 places planned for 2015/16 starting in autumn 2015.
Think India activity
We also hope to support a large number of opportunities for engagement through our Think India strand. This will include:
• Increased information and guidance through face to face briefings and online support and training
• Institutional partnership support and guidance
• Funding opportunities
What will be the benefits of Generation UK-India?
• Greater number of UK young people undertaking study and work experience abroad supporting the strategies of the UK and devolved governments, as outlined in the July 2013 Government policy paper ‘International education strategy: global growth and prosperity’
• Stronger links and partnerships built between the UK and India with increased understanding, engagement and trust
• The creation of lasting connections, networks and partnerships between programme participants and their counterparts in India that will be the basis for future collaboration
• Increased awareness of India as a destination for UK young people to visit to study and work
• The creation of a network of talented and ambitious young people from the UK who will form a future workforce ready to work with India and Indian companies.
• Increased probability that people from the UK will enter into business relationships with India, study in India and visit India again as a result of having spent a significant amount of time in the country.
• Further internationalisation of Indian companies and academic institutions through hosting a participant from the UK.
• Improved career prospects for young people in the UK and India by offering international opportunities that will develop the skills and experience recognised by employers as vital to the success of businesses in a competitive global market.
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We create international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and build trust between them worldwide.
We work in more than 100 countries and our 7000 staff - including 2000 teachers - work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year by teaching English, sharing the Arts and delivering education and society programmes.
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