Combined Universities in Cornwall

In the past decade around £260 million has been invested in higher education in Cornwall. This support has enabled the six universities and colleges working in the county to grow and to develop their own strengths and specialisms. These universities and colleges collaborate through the Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative to ensure that this wealth of knowledge creates opportunities for the people, opportunities and businesses of Cornwall to prosper.

The partners in Combined Universities in Cornwall are:

University of Exeter - an established, well-respected university with an outstanding research record and three campuses, including one at Tremough, shared with University College Falmouth. Strengths at Exeter's Cornwall campus include geography, biosciences, politics, modern Celtic studies, English, mining, and renewable energy. The campus is home to the Environment and Sustainability Institute.
University of Plymouth - The Enterprise University, with strengths in marine science, entrepreneurship, robotics, advanced composites manufacturing, agrifood science and technology, creative industries, environmental technologies, health and social care, engineering and technology, and social and market research.
University College Falmouth - A specialist arts institution with an international reputation for Art, Design, Media and Performance, UCF plans to become Arts University Cornwall by 2013/14. Its Tremough Campus is shared with the University of Exeter.
Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry (PCMD) - widely recognised as the strongest of the new medical schools in the UK. In 2007 PCMD opened the first new dental school in the UK in 40 years. PCMD has established an excellent reputation for high quality educational programmes and has a high quality and expanding research portfolio.
Truro & Penwith College - Offers core business and specialist skills in media, humanities, sciences, performance, ICT, sports science, social care and public services, health and beauty, environment and public health.
Cornwall College - Provides business skills and management development, regulatory training, employment law, environmental management, sales, marketing and business studies, accountancy, law, IT, tourism and manufacturing.
Duchy College - Delivers business and management training for land-based industries through its Rural Business School and Food Innovation Service, with specialist facilities and practitioners in food processing, specialist consultancy and training. Duchy College is part of Cornwall College.

CUC Facts and Figures

Number of graduates in Cornwall has risen from 3250 in 2001/02, to 7700 in 2009/10
Over 650 Cornish businesses have accessed CUC partner’s enquiry services
83 businesses benefitted from Unlocking Cornish Potential in 2008/09
14 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships were in place between Cornish businesses and CUC partners in 2008/09
CUC partner universities and colleges provided consultancy services to 94 businesses in Cornwall
Projected to create 4000 jobs by 2025

CUC and R & D

New knowledge and applications of knowledge are essential pre-requisites of a dynamic economy that generates and attracts new business. CUC aims to create internationally excellent, multidisciplinary research both to stimulate inward investment and to support business growth and greater levels of R&D in Cornwall's businesses.

The CUC partners can work with businesses to help with specific Research and Development projects. The CUC has a wealth of research expertise which can be applied to meet the bespoke needs of your company, be it short term consultancy projects or longer term R&D collaborative activities.
Typical R&D projects may include:

New Product and Technology Development
Developing and Implementing New Processes
Materials Utilisation and Optimisation
Reducing Costs
New Market Entry
Systems and Telecommunications Development
Socio Demographic studies

As a result of the work of the CUC, Cornwall is now recognised as a European leader for its innovative, collaborative approach to higher education, underpinned by a commitment to supporting the county’s people and businesses

For more information on specific programs and projects CUC offers, please see our Key Sector pages for relevant information.