Major boost for university education in Cornwall

University level education in Cornwall has received a boost, with the announcement of an extra £20 million to fund students in the county over the next 10 years.

The additional money was announced by Sir Alan Langlands, who visited Cornwall to meet leaders from the six universities and colleges working together in the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership. Sir Alan is Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Government body which distributes public money for teaching and research to universities and colleges.

Sir Alan Langlands said: "HEFCE continues to play a key role in developing higher education in Cornwall. We have supported the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative since it started and have committed around £50 million to the project between 2005 and 2010. The first two phases of the CUC have been very successful in offering courses to students, creating jobs and developing innovation. The next phase, which will focus on building centres of excellence to drive enterprise and on widening participation through flexible local provision, will continue the vibrant partnership between universities, colleges and the communities they serve."

Dr. Sue Brownlow, Director of Combined Universities in Cornwall, expressed her delight at the news: "This announcement moves university education in Cornwall another big step forward. Thanks to this investment, hundreds more people will be helped to realise their ambitions each year by studying in the county. On top of that, HEFCE's support gives us the financial sustainability we need to move forward with our ambitious plans for a major expansion of our work with business and world class research in Cornwall. It is not the final piece of the funding jigsaw, but it is an absolutely essential one."
The additional funding is for 450 extra student places each year, helping to close the gap between Cornwall and the rest of the UK. At present the number of student places in Cornwall represents 62% of the national average; this announcement will push the figure to 70%. As a result of this investment, the number of people studying in Cornwall is likely to exceed 7,500 by 2011.

Combined Universities in Cornwall is now into its third Phase of development, building on Objective One investment which saw the creation of new university level facilities at nine campuses across Cornwall, including the flagship Tremough campus in Penryn. Ambitions of CUC Phase 3 include an Environment and Sustainability Institute, an Environment and Human Health Institute, an Academy of Innovation and Research, a Cornwall Institute for Enterprise and new learning centres in North Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. These developments will be complemented by more flexible courses, graduate placements with local businesses and a range of initiatives to make university level education accessible to many more people across the county.

During his visit to Cornwall, Sir Alan met a number of graduates working with local companies, including Gendall and Seasalt, and heard from employers who are working with universities and colleges to develop courses that fit their business needs. The visit also included a video conference with marine renewable energy experts from the Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), a joint venture between the University of Exeter and the University of Plymouth, which is closely linked to the WaveHub project funded by the Convergence Programme.

Kevin Lavery, Chief Executive of Cornwall Council, said: "We want Cornwall to be a place that other regions look to for inspiration. This new investment paves the way for a whole new phase of activity which will establish Cornwall's international reputation for excellence in fields that are crucial to Cornwall's economy such as environment and sustainability, environment and human health, design, performance and enterprise."

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office said: "The Combined Universities in Cornwall and its related activities has been a driving force behind Cornwall's generational journey towards a more knowledge based economy. None of this would be possible without the collective efforts of University College Falmouth, University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Truro and Penwith Colleges, Cornwall College and the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. Congratulations and may I wish you on behalf of the Convergence Partnership every success in the future."

Combined Universities in Cornwall is a partnership between the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, University College Falmouth, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Cornwall College and Truro & Penwith College.

Notes for editors

Combined Universities in Cornwall is a dynamic and visionary partnership that is one of the driving forces behind Cornwall's economic renaissance. The partners are the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University College Falmouth, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College. It aims not only to provide the students of the future with more choice and greater opportunities, but also to boost the economic fortunes of the region for the benefit of one and all.

The CUC initiative has received investment from the Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. CUC has previously received investment from the Objective One Programme.

For further information contact David Kirk, Combined Universities in Cornwall PR and Communications Manager on: 01209 721075 / 07834 676942 or email: david.kirk@cuc.ac.uk.

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