THE Duke of Kent met students and staff, and unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of Farnborough College of Technology’s new University Centre Farnborough building on Tuesday, November 14.

The new facility was funded by Farnborough College of Technology, with £2.61m Local Growth Fund from Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

It houses a modern library, seminar and meeting rooms, and social study areas. Students also benefit from the use of the new Study Centre in an adjacent building, which houses a lecture theatre, study spaces, and further seminar rooms.

University Centre Farnborough provides a large range of degree programmes, such as criminology, English literature, engineering, business, and sport science.

The Duke of Kent was given a tour around the University Centre Farnborough site including a visit to the Aerospace and Automotive Academy building, which houses state-of-the-art engineering facilities and a vehicle workshop.

Sport science degree student, Rupert Quiney, 27, from Guildford, said: “As part of the visit, we showed the Duke a few power tests like jump training. He was very interested in what we were doing, and it was really cool to show him just some of the activities we do every day.”

As part of the celebrations, the duke was presented with a cake by Andrew Young, Farnborough College of Technology’s catering student of the tear in the shape of the new University Centre Farnborough building.

Farnborough College of Technology principal Virginia Barrett said: “It was a great honour to welcome the Duke of Kent to Farnborough College of Technology for the opening of our new building, The University Centre Farnborough.

“The college’s vision is to be a community university. Through our accreditation with the University of Surrey and the opening of this building, part funded by the Local Enterprise Partnership, we are able to grow with the needs of the community and provide full educational needs from A-level, vocational courses and apprenticeships right up to post-graduate level.”

Kathy Slack, OBE, director, Enterprise M3 LEP, said: “Investing £2.61 million from our Local Growth Fund into this University Centre is critical to developing locally grown high level skills to keep businesses in Farnborough and the wider Enterprise M3 area globally competitive.”