02.10.07
New appointment to build bridges within and beyond CUC

Combined Universities in Cornwall's (CUC) aim to advance the social and economic fortunes of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has taken a further positive step forward recently with a key addition to the team.

Peter Pierpoint, a Project Worker with the South West Lifelong Learning Network (SWLLN), has been seconded to CUC to help draw together a strategy for closer collaboration in Cornwall – both within the academic world itself and out into the wider community and local economy.

An experienced figure within the education sector, Peter started his career as a school teacher before spending thirty years as Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Plymouth. His time at Plymouth led to an involvement with University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) where he built up an extensive network of contacts in colleges across the South West.

Peter's role at SWLLN, expanding accredited learning, has entailed forging partnerships between employers and educational institutions. This has been invaluable experience for his current project with CUC which involves exploring the possibilities for increased collaboration – sharing resources and facilities in order to achieve economies of scale, furthering best practice and innovation amongst experts and reducing academic and geographical isolation.

He explains: "I am working towards a strategy for greater interactivity between academics, HE institutions and local businesses in Cornwall. You have to find ways of making people want to collaborate and this can start quite simply from making contacts and enabling them to get to know people in other locations who are in similar or related roles." He adds: "This is a really exciting and important venture for CUC. It is a real legacy – a vision of a functioning, effective cluster which fully exploits the potential of collaboration in all its forms."

CUC Executive Director, Dr Ian Tunbridge is delighted to bring Peter's expertise and drive to Cornwall, commenting: "It is vital to have a clear strategy for increasing collaboration as it is not enough to simply have outstanding resources and talent – to get the best result, they have to be able to interact effectively and operate smoothly together. With Peter on board we can focus on this goal."

For further information please contact Emma Stallard, Combined Universities in Cornwall PR and Communications Officer on 07717 377581 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:

South West Lifelong Learning Network (SWLLN) is a new Partnership which aims to create a greater quality of choice in Higher Education for work-based, vocational learners in the region. It is part of a national Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) initiative.

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.

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

back to top