ABU DHABI — The British Council in Abu Dhabi yesterday announced that it plans to relocate to a new centre and the examination registrations will move to the British Visa Application Centre. It would adopt a new operating model of central administrative offices with teaching taking place on partner premises around the community.
Officials said the announcement follows the recent visit to Abu Dhabi by the Chief Executive of the British Council, Martin Davidson, who approved the plans and also signed an important new agreement with the UAE Higher Colleges of Technology, which will form the basis of a closer working relationship.
Paul Sellers, Director-UAE for the British Council, said, ‘The British Council is changing the way it operates in many parts of the world including the Middle East, which is a priority region for us. We are moving to a new operating model, multiplying the number of our 'touch points' with the communities we serve, by combining smaller administrative offices, where the need for public access is very limited, with enhanced online and telephone contact points, and a number-teaching centres around the city, creating easier access.’
In the new model, teaching would take place on partner premises around the community.
The relocation process will start with the teaching centre activity initially moving to the Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT), near Abu Dhabi Men's College, from July 2. Exam registrations will also move to the British Visa Application Centre in the Khalidiya Tower, while the administrative functions will move to a new villa location close to CERT after the summer period.
The new approach is designed to deliver the public access to the services, such as English language teaching and examinations for UK qualifications, in partnership with local institutions. Compact administrative offices will support these satellite teaching sites and also provide a base for the British Council's project teams to continue delivering the wide range of the council's programmes throughout the emirate.
The British Council's physical presence is increasingly complemented by the developing online presence and call centre support, offering broader options and greater convenience to people needing information on any aspect of the British Council's work.
The British Council will continue to teach English and offer access to UK qualifications and education and increase its work in emerging areas such as fashion and design, publishing and entrepreneurship, all of which are both key economic drivers for the UAE and excellent vehicles for the exchange of ideas and experience between the UAE and UK.
‘Bricks and mortar are less of a priority for us,’ adds Paul Sellers.
‘The physical separation of our central administrative offices and satellite teaching centres ensures that we can continue to provide the appropriate level of public access to the British Council team in Abu Dhabi, whilst ensuring that our own teaching and other programmes are delivered in closer collaboration with local partners, within the community.’