British Council’s New Directions 2025 Addresses English Assessment Challenges in South Asia
Chennai: The British Council’s flagship conference, New Directions South Asia 2025, made its debut in New Delhi, India, on February 21, bringing together UK and global experts to explore innovations in English language learning and assessment.
The two-day conference focused on the theme “Technology and tradition: The changing face of assessment in English language learning systems.” With 129 million English speakers in India, representing 10.6% of the population, English proficiency and assessment play a crucial role in accessing international higher education and employment opportunities.
Despite India ranking 69th in the world for English proficiency in 2024, the country’s growing economy and global ambitions make English language skills increasingly important. The British Council, with its expertise in delivering high-quality English language services and examinations, is well-positioned to support India’s ambitions.
The conference brought together participants from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, offering a unique opportunity to address the evolving demands of multilingual and interconnected educational systems. Key discussion areas included:
- English for Employability: Addressing the role of English in employment and how assessment systems can meet employers’ needs.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in English Education: Exploring AI applications in English language education and their effective use in assessment.
- Assessing Young Learners: Investigating assessment’s crucial role in young learners’ holistic development and learning trajectory.
- The Role of English in Multilingual Education Contexts: Highlighting English language assessment policy and practice in multilingual education contexts.
