News - Europe Learns From Cornwall
Combined Universities in Cornwall press release
A delegation from Cornwall's universities and colleges is in Brussels today to celebrate the success of the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) initiative. Guests from other EU regions are attending the Regeneration Through Education event to hear how Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has used Objective One investment to create thousands of student places at a dozen locations, despite being one of the UK's education backwaters just a few years ago.
Decision makers in the EU are also coming to find out how the partnership approach taken by CUC, which is made up of six independent universities and colleges, has helped to create a broader range of opportunities for people and businesses than a traditional university could have delivered.
Professor Steve Smith, Chair of the Combined Universities in Cornwall Steering Group, said, "From a very modest start we now have more than 6,000 students in Cornwall, together with some very exciting research programmes and innovative schemes to support local businesses. All this has been achieved within a decade. We are very proud that other regions are asking how Cornwall achieved so much and wondering what they can learn from our success. We are also keen to make connections with other regions and to discover new ideas which we could put to use here."
Professor Alan Livingston, Chair of the Combined Universities in Cornwall Executive Group added, "CUC and the tremendous growth of higher education we have seen in recent years happened because everyone in Cornwall got behind the vision. That is the big message I want to share with colleagues from across the EU: it's not just about growing your universities and colleges, it's about creating something which helps the people and businesses of your region to realise their potential."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One and Convergence Partnership Office, commented, "The renaissance of the Cornish economy is rooted in the creation of the Combined Universities in Cornwall, which was at the heart of the Objective One programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. I am also delighted that it continues to inspire and reach out to the citizens and businesses in Cornwall. Cornwall took bold steps towards the creation of a more knowledge based economy. You only have to look at some of the exciting new businesses employing young graduates to see that Cornwall is beginning to reap the rewards."
During the event, which is being held in the Committee of the Regions, guests will be able to meet living examples of the benefits of higher education. Penryn based designer, recent University College Falmouth graduate and favourite of the style press, Jethro Macey will be showing his lace patterned paving slabs. Allyson Glover, Project Manager of the acclaimed Unlocking Cornish Potential graduate placement scheme will be there with Phillip Nelson, a graduate who has helped Lostwithiel based toy distributor, Marbel, to refine its systems and boost its profits. Representatives of the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth will also be on hand to talk about their joint Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRe) initiative.
UK speakers will include Councillor Doris Ansari, Chairman of Cornwall County Council and a South West representative on the Committee of the Regions and Jane Henderson, Chief Executive of the South West Regional Development Agency. Speakers from the European Commission will include both the Director General for the department for Regional Policy, Dirk Ahner, and the Director General for Education and Culture. Odile Quintin.