Memorandum of Understanding between the
British Council and the BBC World Service for Collaborative Activities
between 2000 and 2002
3. The Memorandum of Understanding between
The British Council and the BBC World Service was jointly signed
by the then Chief Executive of the World Service, Mark Byford,
and the Director General of the British Council, David Green,
on 17 December 1999.
David Green and Mark Byford meet regularly to
review collaboration between the two organisations and the operation
of the Memorandum of Understanding. The wording of the original
agreement is as follows:
SUMMARY
1. This memorandum is made between the British
Council, on the one hand, and the BBC World Service (BBCWS) on
the other hand, concerning collaboration and co-operation between
the British Council and the BBC. All BBC activities covered by
this memorandum will be co-ordinated by BBC World Service. The
objective of this memorandum is to provide a framework within
which collaborative activities and projects will be undertaken
and specific programme areas elaborated between the British Council
and the BBCWS. This memorandum does not constitute a legal agreement
by either the BBCWS or the British Council to provide support
for any individual project or activity. It is not intended that
this memorandum will have any legally binding effect.
PURPOSE
2. The purpose of the collaboration is to:
— share agendas in areas of common
interest;
— pool resources and expertise where
appropriate;
— maximise impact through working in
partnership;
— utilise our existing global networks
to mutual advantage and benefit;
— improve the integration of related
activities;
— share knowledge and ideas in order
to develop new products and services;
— capitalise on the status, experience
and credibility of both organisations.
SPECIFIC AREAS
OF COLLABORATION
3. The following are the priority areas
that the British Council and the BBCWS are interested in supporting
in collaboration:
— English language teaching.
— Contemporary literature and cross-cultural
studies.
— Training for the development of civil
society.
— Opinion and impact surveys and polls.
— Co-location of facilities.
Additional areas of collaboration may be identified
during the lifetime of this memorandum. The overseas offices of
the BBCWS and the British Council will be informed of and involved
in specific country activities where appropriate.
TIMEFRAME AND
WORK PROGRAMMES
4. This memorandum will continue for three
years from the date of signature. Attached to this memorandum
is an Annex which is the framework under which Annual Work Programmes
will be agreed by both organisations at the beginning of each
year. These Work Programmes will include the respective inputs
from each organisation and the agreed outputs. There will be regular
joint progress reviews initiated by the individuals named in paragraph
9.
5. This memorandum can be terminated by
either party; in this event the terminating party will endeavor
to give not less than six months notice to the other.
REPORTS
6. The individuals responsible for implementation
under paragraph 9 below, will produce annual reports on progress
against objectives with related recommendations. Subject to the
respective policies of the BBCWS and the British Council on the
disclosure of information, these reports will be exchanged, and
shared with the senior management of the BBCWS and the British
Council. The chief executives of both organisations will hold
an annual review meeting to monitor progress in the relationship.
OTHER PARTIES
7. Other parties may join this collaboration
and be signatories to a revised form of this memorandum provided
that the original signatories consent.
LIMITS TO
AGREEMENT
8. This memorandum does not constitute a
commitment by either the BBCWS or the British Council to provide
support for any individual activity or project not in the agreed
annual work programmes. The BBCWS and the British Council will
each retain full discretion as to whether to provide support for
individual activities and projects, in accordance with their own
policies and procedures. Funding arrangements will continue to
be discrete and will demonstrate complete transparency between
grants in aid and other sources of funding in different parts
of each organisation. Any sharing of information between the British
Council and the BBCWS will be subject to their respective policies
on the disclosure of information.
IMPLEMENTATION RESPONSIBILITIES
9. The individuals with overall responsibility
for implementation of this memorandum are:
For the BBC: Andrew Thompson
Commissioning Editor, BBC World Service
Room 219 SE, Bush House, Strand,
London WC2B 4PH
telephone: 020 7557 2464
fax: 020 7240 3141
e-mail: andrew.thompson.02@bbc.co.uk
For the British Council: Tony O'Brien
Director ELT, The British Council
10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN
telephone: 020 7389 4165
fax: 020 7389 4464
e-mail: tony.obrien@britishcouncil.org
EFFECTIVENESS
10. This Memorandum of Understanding will
come into effect on signature by both parties on the date set
out below.
(Signed by both parties on 17 December 1999.)
BBC World Service
May 2002
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