The British Council has announced its flagship event, the New Directions Conference, will be hosted for the first time in Nairobi, Kenya from September 24-26, 2024. Marking its debut in Africa, this significant event is set to bring together the professional language testing and learning community from across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. The conference aims to address key challenges and trends within the education and assessment systems, spotlighting the dynamic and complex linguistic landscapes of the region.
The New Directions conference will delve into the theme of “Rethinking Policy and Practice for English in Complex Linguistic Landscapes.” Discussions will focus on how assessment policy can better serve multilingual communities, the role of English in modern African identities, and the opportunities and challenges presented by multilingualism and plurilingualism. Additionally, the integration of technology in language assessment and learning will be a critical area of exploration.
Set to attract over 200 participants from 18 countries, the event will feature a robust agenda over two days, including presentations by high-profile experts in the field of language and assessment. Notable speakers and panelists include Dr. David Njengere of the Kenya National Examinations Council, Prof. Leketi Makalela from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, Prof. Barry O’Sullivan from the British Council, and Dr. Harry Kuchah Kuchah from the University of Birmingham.
The conference will be officially opened by Kate Ewart-Biggs, Deputy CEO of the British Council, alongside Tom Porter, the Country Director for Kenya, and Lucy Pearson, the new Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director.
Keshav Sreedharan, Regional Director of Exams at the British Council, emphasized the conference’s forward-looking agenda: “This year’s New Directions, Sub Saharan Africa conference will explore critical questions about the future of English and its use, the broader competencies needed in a digitally enabled communication landscape, and the potential changes in language education policy and reform in Kenya and the wider Sub-Saharan region.”
Tom Porter added, “The New Directions conference serves as a dynamic platform for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and developing sustainable solutions that empower educational institutions. By bringing together educators, policymakers, and experts to exchange transformative ideas, we reinforce our shared commitment to creating a brighter future for education in the region.”
This landmark conference not only aims to put Sub Saharan Africa scholars and practitioners on the international language learning and assessment map but also to foster global partnerships and thought leadership in tackling the unique educational challenges faced by the continent.
