British Council - Connecting Futures
British Council - Connecting Futures
Connecting Cultures through Science and Arts
United Kingdom and Pakistan
March - April 2003
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© Photograph copyright Azra and Peter Meadows Visiting students with Scottish piper on the steps of the Chapel of the University of Glasgow. The piper is about to pipe in a bride and bridegroom who are to be married in the chapel. Saturday 29th March 2003. |
Report By
Azra Meadows and Peter Meadows
University of Glasgow
Coordinators of 'Connecting Cultures through Science and Arts'
May 2003
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Background
The Connecting Futures Programme is a new five-year British Council initiative aiming at building deeper mutual understanding, learning and respect between young people from different cultural backgrounds. Activities funded by the Connecting Futures Programme reflect the cultural, religious and ethnic make-up of the countries participating, as well as the rich multi-ethnic diversity of the UK.
Connecting Cultures through Science and Arts is a project under the Connecting Futures Programme. It focuses on connecting the cultures of Pakistan and the United Kingdom by developing the capacities of young people to understand and appreciate science and the arts in relation to the environment.
First Year - Ending 4th April 2003
First Year - Ending 4th April 2003
During the first year of the project, five students from universities in Pakistan have visited the United Kingdom for two weeks (23 March and 6 April 2003). The visit was centred on the London area and on Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands. It included the following:
- Discussions with young scientists and artists about life in the United Kingdom and Pakistan focussing on multicultural aspects of science, the arts and the environment
- Meeting representatives of educational and governmental establishments
- Visiting educational institutions including universities, art galleries and museums
- Attending and taking part in technical talks and presentations at these institutions
- Visiting important environmental sites
- Experiencing the cultural diversity of life in the United Kingdom
These activities focussed on awareness building of environmental perceptions and analyses by scientists and artists in a multicultural context. They also included the importance of past and future global environments, the central role of biodiversity and environmental protection, and the environmental impact of human societies. The students will submit a report on their visit (deadline for receipt 1st August 2003) that will be assessed. A certificate of successful attendance will be issued to each student on receipt of the report. A prize will be awarded to the author of the best report.
Second Year - 5th April 2003 to 4th April 2004
Second Year - 5th April 2003 to 4th April 2004
Provided funding is available from the British Council, next year's activities will include the following:
- Presentations at parent universities in Pakistan
This year's group of visitors to the UK will present a joint group seminar at each of their parent universities in Pakistan. - Web site on 'Cross Cultural Arts, Science and the Environment'
This year’s group of visitors will jointly establish a web site in Pakistan that will provide an interactive forum for exchange of views by young people centred on the project. - Visit by United Kingdom students to Pakistan
An equivalent group of United Kingdom students will visit Pakistan, with the same overall objectives as the visit to the United Kingdom - connecting the cultures of Pakistan and the United Kingdom through science and the arts in relation to the environment. This year's group of Pakistani students will be expected to participate in this visit.