The Language Centre becomes part of the University of Oxford’s Department for Continuing Education (OUDCE) from Thursday 1 August.
The move will build on the shared strengths of the Language Centre and OUDCE in support of language learning across the University.
There will be no immediate changes to Language Centre courses, which we expect to continue as usual in the 2024/25 academic year.
Background
The Language Centre is currently part of the Academic Administration Division within the University Administration and Services.
In June 2023, the University’s Education Committee approved proposals to integrate the Language Centre with OUDCE, building on the strength of each in supporting language learning.
An integration project took place throughout the 2023/24 academic year to prepare for the integration with oversight from the Committee for the Language Centre.
What it means for Language Centre users
In the immediate future, the Language Centre academic English and modern foreign languages courses will continue to be taught as they are at present at Woodstock Road and online, and are expected to continue as usual throughout the 2024/25 academic year.
OUDCE’s own language courses will also continue to be offered separately as at present.
As part of the integration, and following consultation with the academic and librarian community, many of the resources in the Language Centre Library will be integrated into the Bodleian Libraries collection, including the OUDCE library, where they will be more widely available.
Tutors will continue to have access to some resources at the Language Centre to support teaching and learning, but the library will be closed for a time over the summer while the moves take place. Please email librarian@lang.ox.ac.uk if you need access during the vacation.
What happens next
The integration project will continue during the 2024/25 academic year, considering how best to provide high quality support for learners across the Language Centre and OUDCE into the future.
The Committee for the Language Centre will continue to provide academic oversight during this period.
Any planned changes to current arrangements will be communicated as soon as they are available, via this website, wider University communications channels, and direct to Language Centre customers.
Professor Matthew Weait, Director of the Department for Continuing Education, said: “As a truly global organisation, the University values languages as an essential part of its academic mission. We are thrilled to welcome the Language Centre into Continuing Education and look forward to working together to support language learning in Oxford and beyond.”
Professor Katrin Kohl, Chair of the Committee for the Language Centre, added: “The formal move of the Language Centre marks an important next step in the integration process. I look forward to working with the Continuing Education and Language Centre teams to build on this progress to develop an ambitious languages strategy that supports Oxford’s global status and aspirations.”
If you would like more information about the integration or have any questions, please contact info@lang.ox.ac.uk.
