Free British Council online conference brings together leading educators from across South Asia to explore how creativity, inclusion and technology can help prepare learners for a rapidly changing world
The British Council has announced the South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026, a free three-day event that will convene educators, researchers and teacher educators from across the region to examine one of the most pressing questions facing education today: how can schools equip learners with the creativity, adaptability and communication skills needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world.
Taking place from 23–25 July 2026, the online conference comes at a time when education systems across South Asia are grappling with the challenge of balancing curriculum demands, assessment pressures and evolving learner needs. While English remains a critical gateway to academic and professional opportunities, educators are increasingly seeking approaches that move beyond language acquisition alone to encourage critical thinking, collaboration, learner agency and participation.
Against this backdrop, the conference will bring together leading voices from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to explore the role of creativity as a catalyst for deeper learning. Discussions will examine how multilingual classrooms can become more inclusive, how learner voice can be strengthened through innovative pedagogies, and how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can be harnessed to enhance rather than replace human-centred teaching.
Through keynote talks, practitioner-led discussions and classroom case studies, participants will gain insight into how educators across South Asia are responding to shared challenges with locally relevant solutions. The programme will spotlight practical approaches that are helping teachers create more engaging learning environments, encourage meaningful participation and expand opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds.
‘Creativity plays a vital role in helping learners develop the communication, collaboration and critical-thinking skills they need to succeed in today's world. Through the South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026, we are bringing together outstanding educators and teacher educators from across the region to share practical ideas, research-informed approaches and classroom strategies that teachers can adapt to their own contexts. We are delighted to offer this free professional development opportunity and look forward to welcoming educators from across South Asia and beyond.” – Rustom Mody, Country Director, British Council Nepal
To register and know more about the conference: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/news-and-events/webinars/webinars-teachers/south-asia-teachingenglish-online-conference-2026 
About the speakers
Anju Moses (Sri Lanka)
An academic leader, educator, author and speaker with over 20 years of experience in education and leadership. She heads the English and Schools Education portfolio at the British Council Sri Lanka and has held diverse leadership roles across teacher development, digital learning and safeguarding.
Huma Hasna Riaz Ahmed (India)
An English language teacher, teacher educator and researcher with over 20 years of experience across India, the UK and the

UAE, including 17 years with the British Council.
Mithila Weerasinghe (Sri Lanka)
A teacher trainer at the Regional English Support Centre, Sri Lanka, and curriculum developer with expertise in pedagogy and digital learning.
Shobha Bhattarai (Nepal)
A secondary-level teacher and teacher educator at QUEST Nepal with experience in teacher training, mentoring and action research-based pedagogy.
Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)
A Lecturer in English in the Bangladesh Civil Service (General Education Cadre) with a PhD in Language Testing from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
Dr. Amol Padwad (India)
An ELT professional with over 40 years of experience as a teacher, trainer, teacher community leader and consultant. He is President of the AINET Association of English Teachers (India) and a Trustee of the A. S. Hornby Educational Trust, UK.
Rabia Shafi (Pakistan)
An ELT consultant, teacher educator and materials developer with over 20 years of experience working with teachers, mentors and school leaders across South Asia and internationally.
Nisar Shaikh (India)
A government primary teacher in rural Maharashtra and British Council scholarship recipient with an MA in TESOL from the University of Leeds. He actively contributes to ELT projects and teacher development initiatives.
Astha Kumari Chaudhary (Nepal)
A secondary-level English teacher and assistant headteacher from Madhesh Province, Nepal. She is a Fulbright TEA Alumna, British Council facilitator and teacher trainer committed to inclusive, student-centred education.
Dr. Fauzia Shamim (Pakistan)
Chief Academic Officer at Durbeen and Vice President of the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT). She holds a PhD in TESOL from the University of Leeds and specialises in teacher education, AI in education and language policy.
Dr. Md. Mohib Ullah (Bangladesh)
Associate Professor of English at International Islamic University Chittagong and General Secretary of BELTA. A Fulbright scholar and IVLP alumnus, he received the IVLP Impact Award 2024 for his AI-enhanced English education initiative.
Krishna R.C. (Nepal)
A secondary school English teacher with expertise in action research, creative pedagogy and technology-supported language teaching.
Soosai Rathinam (India)
A graduate teacher of English in Tamil Nadu with over 20 years of experience as a teacher and teacher educator dedicated to professional development in English language teaching.
Imalka Kumari Wickramasinghe (Sri Lanka)
A teacher of English at Thaksala Maha Vidyalaya with a passion for creative, interactive and inclusive English language teaching.

About the British Council 
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024–25 we reached 599 million people.
www.britishcouncil.org
For any further enquiries contact general.enquiry@britishcouncil.org.np.