20.04.07
South Bohemia comes to Cornwall

As the second part of a two week visit to the UK, a contingent from the South Bohemia region of the Czech Republic recently visited the Combined Universities in Cornwall's (CUC) Tremough campus in Penryn on a fact finding tour.

The ten delegates represented a range of private and public sector organisations interested in learning how Objective One European funding has been used on various projects in Cornwall to improve the social and economic fortunes of the region. Since the Czech Republic joined the EU in 2004, South Bohemia has become eligible for the same type of investment - their project being co-financed by the EU via structural investments - and key representatives in the region are keen to explore initiatives which have worked successfully for other regions.

Delegates stayed at The Devon School of English in Paignton, where they also received tuition in the English Language as part of the trip. Paul Hawthorne, Vice Principal and Director at the school, organised visits for the group throughout the South West, taking in the CUC, Cornwall Enterprise and the Regional Development Agency as well as the Tamar Science Park in Plymouth.

Director of the South Bohemian Agency for Support to Innovative Enterprising, Michaela Novotna, commented how the group had found the visit to the CUC helpful: "One particular aim of our project is to increase interaction between the private sector and higher education in South Bohemia and to encourage innovation, research and development. An incubator centre is being planned for next year so it has been very useful for us to learn how similar work has been carried out so successfully in Cornwall."

Nigel Hewitt, CUC Co-ordinator, hosted the visit to Tremough and commented: "It was a privilege to welcome our colleagues from South Bohemia to the campus. Visitors from the across the EU are always keen to know how Cornwall has created a unique higher education partnership which is helping to deliver economic and social change for the region. Our guests were particularly interested to learn more about CUC's growing links with Cornwall's businesses and the ways in which university research is being translated into economic success."

The group will be returning to the Czech Republic on Sunday but hope to maintain links they have made within the South West.

For further information contact Emma Stallard, Combined Universities in Cornwall PR and Communications Officer 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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