Press release
Voices of the World brings intercultural learning to India through British Council GREAT Talks
The award-winning Voices of the World (VOTW) project has been brought to students and educators in India as a feature of the British Council’s GREAT talks.
Published on 18 December 2024
Sharon Tonner-Saunders, a lecturer in the University’s School of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law, participated in the British Council’s prestigious GREAT Talks Series/Workshops 2024-25.
Sharon was chosen from more than 150 applicants to join a select group of UK experts delivering talks and workshops in India on her award-winning Voices of the World project. During the visit, Sharon spoke in Kolkata, Dimapur, and Guwahati to deliver lectures and lead workshops for primary school children, teachers, and university audiences.
Her sessions explored intercultural learning through performing arts, promoting diversity and inclusion.
Sharon said, “The trip broadened the reach of the VOTW and enriched the project’s already diverse community of learners, through creating exciting partnerships with schools and universities in India to develop young people’s intercultural sensitivity alongside creating possibly international partnerships between the University of Dundee and each Indian University.
“The trip also inspired me to create two new intercultural projects that will be a fusion of Scotland and India through the performing arts”
Voices of the World brings learners from around the world together through the use of music, art, dance and Makaton signing, to preserve their linguistic identities and to develop an understanding, awareness and appreciation of other languages and cultures.
The project aims to develop young people's intercultural sensitivity to enable them to live, work and learn with their global peers. The GREAT Campaign is a government initiative to promote the UK internationally as a place to visit, study and do business.
The British Council is a partner in the GREAT campaign and through its involvement it is raising awareness and promoting the UK’s strengths in education in India.
The GREAT Talks, part of the British Council’s contribution to the UK’s GREAT Campaign, reach thousands of students, educators, and researchers across India. In 2023-24, the series featured six UK speakers, delivering 26 talks across eight cities, engaging more than 4,500 students and 140 higher education leaders.
Sharon’s innovative work in intercultural education has already connected over 100 schools worldwide, earning accolades such as the British Council eTwinning Project of the Year and ambassador status for Intercultural Learning.