* First Welsh office opened in 1944 as an “Allied centre” for increasing numbers of refugees arriving from Allied countries.

* Today, the council’s Wales office in Cardiff overlooks the National Museum. it has eight staff. Director since last August is Kevin Higgins, an Englishman with a Welsh wife and young son, Ioan, who has lived in Crickhowell, south Wales, since 2000.

* Annual spending: about pound;1.5 million.:

* Among the programmes it runs are:

ARION

Five-day visits to another European country to study best education practice and meet other decision-makers. Open to heads and deputies, advisers, education officers and teacher trainers.

COMENIUS 1

Supports school partnerships for pupils and staff across Europe work on joint projects. In 2004, Wales (pop 3m) had 351 funded programmes, compared with 174 in Scotland (pop 5m).

COMENIUS 2

Provides European in-service training for serving and trainee teachers on school developmentcurriculum issues. In 2004, Wales had 54 applications against 50 in Scotland.

E-TWINNING

Every school in Wales can be linked electronically to schools throughout EU.

DFID GLOBAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Promotes partnerships between schools in the UK and in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

language assistants Last year there were 122 foreign language assistants in Welsh schools, while 84 Welsh undergraduates went overseas to help teach English

GLOBAL GATEWAY

The one-stop shop website for international partnerships, where you can find schools from all over the world. www.globalgateway.org

LECTURERS’ INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A Wales-only programme for further education staff, to exchange good practice and develop links.

LESOTHO TEACHER PLACEMENT PROGRAMME

Enables qualified teachers in Wales to work in Lesotho for six months and develop their professional skills.