Cornwall Shares Experience with Other Nations
Representatives from across Europe were invited to hear how Cornwall is leading the way in the use of university-level education as a key driver for economic regeneration. Senior figures from the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative and its supporters delivered a seminar at the European Commission's Directorate for the Regions on September 14th, followed by an evening reception at the European Parliament.
Professor Alan Livingston, chair of the CUC Steering Group said:
"We believe that our experiences in Cornwall and the groundbreaking solutions we have developed could be of great value to other regions. We also hope that our presence in Brussels will lead to new relationships and new opportunities to learn about other related initiatives which could inform our work in Cornwall."
Graham Meadows, Director General for Regional Policy delivered the opening address at the seminar, which included a presentation from Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Neil Parish MEP opened the evening reception on behalf of the host, Graham Watson MEP (who was unable to attend) and Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, gave a welcome speech. Speakers at the reception included Judith Reynolds, Board Member of the South West Regional Development Agency, Phillip Johnson, Deputy Director of European Programmes for the Government Office for the South West, and Peter Stethridge, Chief Executive of Cornwall County Council. The reception and seminar were arranged in cooperation with the South West UK Brussels Office.
Cornwall has never had a traditional university, a fact which until recently forced 90% of its young people who chose to undertake higher study to leave the region. Few returned to live and work in Cornwall, creating a 'brain drain' that made it hard for businesses to recruit skilled graduates locally. The Combined Universities in Cornwall, a partnership of eight universities and colleges serving Cornwall, was formed to address these challenges.
An initial investment of £65 million from the UK Government and the European Union (CUC is the UK's biggest Objective 1 project) has enabled the partnership to massively expand university-level provision in Cornwall using an innovative 'hub' and 'rim' model whereby a larger central campus supports and is supported by smaller facilities spread around the region.
Alongside the growth of education provision, the CUC has developed the capacity of its partner universities and colleges to support business in the region. A further £55m funding package was secured in Spring 2005. The CUC is expected to generate over 4000 jobs by 2025 and to create over 4,500 student places producing 1,500 graduates each year by 2011.