06.03.07
Cornwall's student population tops 5000

University-level education in Cornwall has reached a major milestone with the number of people in higher education across Cornwall exceeding 5000 for the first time.

Figures just released by Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) show that some 5,339 students are now enrolled on university-level courses with the nine universities and colleges in the CUC partnership. This is more than double the 2,437 students recorded in the 1999/2000 academic year, just before CUC was founded. Since then Cornwall has seen some £120 million of Objective One and UK Government investment in higher education. The money has been used to build the award-winning Tremough campus in Penryn and new facilities in Rosewarne, Camborne, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, Stoke Climsland and Saltash, and to create a broad range of new courses.

CUC Executive Director, Dr Ian Tunbridge welcomed the figures: "The partnership was aiming for 5,009 students in this academic year, so we're really thrilled to have exceeded our targets so substantially. It's clear that there is a tremendous appetite for high quality, distinctive higher education courses in Cornwall, both from the many local people who are studying here and from those who are moving into the county to pursue their ambitions. CUC was created to help regenerate Cornwall and its economy, but the whole concept depended on our partner universities and colleges' ability to attract students. They've certainly shown that they are more than capable of doing just that. The challenge now is to ensure that as many of Cornwall's new graduates as possible play their part in creating the kind of higher wage economy we need by choosing to stay and build their careers in the region."

With many CUC partner universities and colleges reporting a sharp rise in applications for the next academic year the growth in Cornwall's student numbers looks set to continue.

For further information contact Emma Stallard at the Combined Universities in Cornwall on 01326 370446 or email: emma.stallard@cuc.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

The Combined Universities in Cornwall is a dynamic and visionary partnership that is one of the driving forces behind Cornwall's economic renaissance. This partnership combines the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University College Falmouth, The Open University, The College of St Mark & St John, and the Peninsula Medical School, with Cornwall's Further Education colleges - 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 been invested in by the Objective One 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.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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