04.06.04
Cabinet minister visits CUC campus

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the Rt Hon Paul Boateng MP, visited the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) campus at Tremough, Penryn on the morning of Monday the 7th of June. The minister saw at first hand some of the university-level courses made possible through the CUC initiative and heard of its plans for the future. The Combined Universities in Cornwall has been funded through the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Mr Boateng began his visit with a presentation by Gordon Kelly, CUC Coordinator, on the success of the project to date and on the proposed second phase of CUC development. Mr Kelly described how, if the necessary funding is secured, the CUC partnership will build new facilities and expand the range of courses offered in Cornwall to create around 2,800 more full time university-level places. In his presentation Mr Kelly also emphasised the added positive impact that an expanded CUC would have on Cornwall's economy.

Following the presentation the minister was given a tour of the campus by Professor Alan Livingston, Principal of Falmouth College of Arts and Chair of the CUC Steering Group and Professor Keith Atkinson, Provost of the University of Exeter in Cornwall and Chair of the CUC Executive Group. Mr Boateng visited the Falmouth College of Arts Media Centre and its brand new Design Centre, which is the first part of the award-winning main Hub building to be opened, and was able to see building work in progress on the rest of the site, which will be shared by the College and the University of Exeter when it is completed in September 2004.

At the end of Mr Boateng's three hour visit, Gordon Kelly commented: "This has been a wonderful chance to show the minister what the CUC has achieved so far, both in terms of the increased opportunities for study now available across Cornwall and the boost we are giving to Cornwall's economy. We also presented our vision for a second phase of CUC development which would mean more courses, more facilities and closer involvement with business to bring about a step change towards a knowledge-based economy for Cornwall.”

Mr Kelly emphasised that the University of Exeter and Falmouth College of Arts facilities at the Tremough campus form part of the wider CUC partnership which also includes Plymouth University, The Open University, Peninsula Medical School, The College of St Mark & St John, Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College.

Editor's notes:

The Combined Universities in Cornwall has been funded through the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Contact:
For more information, please contact David Kirk in the CUC PR and Communications Office.

Tel: 01326 370471 or Email: david.kirk@cuc.ac.uk

Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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