Falmouth University and the University of Exeter have signed a Civic University Agreement with Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board.
This civic strategy brings the two universities together with the councils and the ICB to work in collaboration to support the region’s growth and prosperity.
Through the agreement, the universities will explore with local partners how their facilities and specialist resources, teaching and skills, and research and knowledge exchange can be leveraged for the benefit of the region’s businesses and communities.
The agreement identifies four priority areas for action, aligned with the Isles of Scilly’s Corporate Plan and Together We Can: The Cornwall Plan 2020-50, which was shaped with the input of thousands of Cornwall residents. The priorities are:
- Green Futures Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: sustainable food, land and seas and a creative carbon zero economy, leaving more nature for future generations.
- Healthy Futures Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: a shared commitment to create healthy, safe and resilient communities where people live well for longer.
- Fair Futures Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: Supporting thriving places with decent homes, and strengthening equality, education and entrepreneurship with opportunities for lifelong learning and skills development
- Creative Futures Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: Celebrating the region’s cultural heritage and supporting partners’ shared goals for a leading rural creative economy and a digital revolution for sustainable living
Professor Emma Hunt, vice-chancellor of Falmouth University, said: “The two universities are deeply committed to their role as anchor institutions in Cornwall. Both leaders in our different specialisms, working in close collaboration with our local partners, we are looking forward to exploring new ways to combine our strengths, target our activity and to achieve more together for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”
Linda Taylor, Leader of Cornwall Council, added, “Cornwall is very fortunate to have two pioneering and complementary universities delivering world-leading teaching and research in the Duchy. This agreement is a fantastic framework around which we can meaningfully shape our work together, driving focussed activity through an annually agreed set of projects that have been identified and developed with local people.”
