Chennai: “We, at British Council, encourage and support strong voices of young women, who we believe will inspire many more young girls and women, to fulfil their dreams and ambitions. These women who want to make a mark in society – whether it is by studying STEM in the UK or learning to become a DJ through Sector Pro workshops, are a testimony of our work in inclusion, diversity and the inter-connectedness of India and the UK,” said Janaka Pushpanathan, director, British Council, South India.
Speaking to News Today about the initiatives taken by British Council for more than 70 years in India, she said it is committed to improving access to quality education, skills and training through various initiatives and partnerships aimed at development of women.
Some of these key initiatives for education are STEM scholarship, which benefited 100 women who pursued Masters in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education in the United Kingdom in 2018. Of these, 44 hailed from south India, points out Janaka, who also runs Unlearn, a learning and development platform.
TEACHER TRAINING
Alongside STEM scholarship, British Council also offers core skills workshops for the professional development of teachers in Chennai. This aimed at developing the capacity of teachers and leaders to engage with 21st century learners.
The workshops enabled these teachers to use student-centered approaches in line with the recommendations of National Curriculum Framework, and to inculcate core skills thinking in students.
WORKSHOPS
Women in science workshops, through Newton-Bhabha Fund, in partnership with Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Pune, was conducted in Bengaluru.
These are ongoing projects, reaching out to women researchers across India focusing on topics such as science journalism and science administration.
English and Digital for Girls’ Education was launched in 2012 in partnership with Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee, Bangladesh. The program aims to improve the life prospects of adolescent girls in socio-economically marginalised communities in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The programme focuses on enhancing participants’ English proficiency, digital skills and awareness of social issues as well as improve the leadership skills of smaller groups of peer leaders drawn from the same communities of adolescent girls.
SPORTS SKILLING
If you think British Council has only to do with language and skill development, think again. It partners with Sports Authority of India and All India Football Federation to provide opportunity to football coaches in India to acquire newer coaching techniques and leadership skills.
DJING
The British Council and online music guide, Wild City, joined forces to introduce The Sector Pro: Women in Electronic Music in India, in March 2018, with a special focus on skills for women interested in working in the music industry.
| GIRL POWER |
| Janaka Pushpanathan says she grew up in a family environment which clearly established equality. The women were constantly reminded that good education is what will set them apart and make them feel truly empowered. She says, ‘I was also lucky to have some brilliant women in my life, who helped shape my thinking personally and professionally. Be it my science teacher at Rosary Matriculation, Mrs Mathew, or Ms Sheila Mutunayagam, my professor of Physics at Ethiraj College, they were towering examples of brilliant women.’ Janaka admires PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi as an amazing professional icon. Her ‘Performance with Purpose’ vision has inspired me in multiple ways in her journey as an ed tech startup entrepreneur, says Janaka and adds that she continues to do so in her current role as director, British Council in India. |
Article by Afshan Siddique