The British Council’s flagship conference brought together UK and global experts for the first time in South Asia to explore cutting-edge innovations in English language learning and assessment.

New Directions South Asia 2025, British Council's flagship conference on language testing and assessment, made its South Asia debut on 21 February bringing together participants from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The two-day conference commenced with a ceremony featuring senior representatives from the British Council. Professor Barry O'Sullivan OBE, Director of English Language Research at the British Council delivered the keynote address on the conference theme "Technology and tradition: The changing face of assessment in English language learning systems."

English remains a vital global language driving both functional needs and aspirational goals in education and career advancement worldwide. The British Council, with its expertise in delivering high-quality English language services and examinations, is well-positioned to support South Asia’s knowledge ambitions. The first-ever South Asian edition of New Directions marks a significant step towards addressing the growing importance of English language assessment in the region.

The conference brought together participants from across the region offering a unique opportunity to address the evolving demands of multilingual and interconnected educational systems. Over these two days, regional and international leaders in education came together to create a collaborative platform for policymakers, educators, academics, teachers, and assessment experts.

In Sri Lanka, the inaugural conference was livestreamed from the British Council’s Colombo office to an in-country audience. British Council partners from Cambridge English, IELTS, and our partner schools’ network met and discussed challenges and solutions related to English language assessment.

Orlando Edwards, Country Director Sri Lanka, British Council said, "It was inspiring to see this landmark conference come to life, to bring together such diverse expertise from across the region and beyond to address the evolving landscape of English language assessment. We were delighted to sponsor three leading Sri Lanka experts to share their perspectives in New Delhi. By hosting New Directions in South Asia, we convened the region's thought leaders to shape the future of English language assessment, empowering the wider South Asian region to compete, collaborate and thrive on the world stage. With this, we continue to strengthen our mission of empowering learners, educators and institutions to thrive in an increasingly multilingual and technology-driven world."

Professor Barry O’Sullivan OBE, Director, English Language Research, British Council said, "The launch of New Directions in South Asia marks a significant milestone in our journey of driving innovation in English language assessment worldwide. The rich discussions that unfolded here demonstrate how bringing together thought-leaders, educators, and policymakers under one roof creates meaningful dialogue on the intersection of technology and tradition. This collaborative platform ensures that our assessment practices continue to evolve in step with learners' needs in today's rapidly changing world."

Meanwhile, speaking on ‘Challenges and approaches in assessing language learning in young learners’, Victoria Murphy, Professor of Applied Linguistics and Director of the Department of Education, University of Oxford shared, “The discussions at New Directions South Asia highlight our shared commitment to developing assessment approaches that respect young learners' developmental stages while preparing them for future success. By combining research-backed methodologies with emerging technologies, we can create assessment frameworks that are both rigorous and child-friendly, supporting the unique needs of young language learners across the region."

The conference took place over 21-22 February, featuring two plenary sessions, four panel discussions, and 30+ parallel sessions. Bringing together 250 individuals, this two-day event emphasised enhancing employability through English language skills, harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionise English education, implementing effective assessment strategies for young learners and integrating English within diverse multilingual education contexts. The discussions were centred around four key strands: 

1. English for Employability: Addressing the role of English in employment and how assessment systems can meet employers’ needs.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in English Education: Exploring examples of AI applications in English language education, highlighting how planning and implementation consider these factors for effective use in assessment.
3. Assessing Young Learners: Investigating all aspects of assessment and its crucial role in the holistic development and learning trajectory of young learners.
4. The Role of English in Multilingual Education Contexts: Highlighting English language assessment policy and practice in multilingual education contexts.