THE Mayor of Worcester has officially opened the University of Worcester’s new Language Centre, following its relocation to the city centre.

The language centre is celebrating 20 years of helping people to learn new languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese.

The centre has moved from the university’s St John’s Campus to its Jenny Lind building in Farrier Street.

Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Paul Denham, cut a ribbon to formally open the new centre.

He was joined by the University of Worcester’s pro vice chancellor international, Heather Forland, and students and staff old and new, including representatives from Japanese partner university, Ibaraki.

Students on the CELTA (certificate in teaching English to speakers of other languages) course – a qualification for teaching English as a foreign language – were also present.

Cllr Denham said: “This relocated language school at the university improves the facilities available to its growing number of international students. I was very impressed by the students I met.”

John Hankinson, director of the language school, said: “It was wonderful to welcome the mayor to the relaunch and recognise the valuable work we are doing to develop people’s language and language teaching skills, both from an academic perspective and as a service to the local community and beyond.”