Career driven Cornwall-based students rewarded

Two ambitious local students from the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campus (known as Tremough), Penryn, are each celebrating a £1,000 payout to further their careers from the University’s Floella Benjamin Career Development awards.    

Caroline Warwick-Evans, a third year Renewable Energy student, will be leading a project in a small community in Borneo’s rainforest, looking at the potential of introducing electricity generation from a micro-hydro power scheme, and the social and economic impact of this. The joint University of Exeter and University College Falmouth student led expedition will be followed by local schools via satellite and web updates from July to October.

Caroline says: “Having almost finished my studies in renewable energy engineering I am well equipped to design small scale hydro systems which, if carried out in a responsible way, have the potential to dramatically improve the way of life for people in developing countries. I want to avoid problems in the past where well-intentioned organisations install systems which cannot be self sufficient and fail due to lack of parts, understanding, materials being unsuitable to the climate, or lack of understanding of social impact. I am keen to work in development.”

Caroline will be building a prototype hydro power micro-turbine to use as a teaching and learning aid in Borneo, with the help of Rupert Armstrong-Evans from Evans Engineering in Launceston.   

Third year Geographer Sam Gillchrest, from Mousehole, is taking professional yachting qualifications with the aim for working as a watch officer for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. His interest in sailing began after joining the Penlee Lifeboat crew, he has volunteered with the RNLI for 3 years.  He sails regularly in Mount’s Bay. 

The annual career development awards, now in their fourth year, look to develop employability and give financial support from the University of Exeter for innovative career ideas. 

Professor Janice Kay, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Exeter says: “These awards enable students to turn good ideas into a plan of action.  When judging we are looking for students who are driven, focused and willing to go the extra mile to ensure career success. It is great that these awards are being used for such a variety of projects, to show that Exeter students are having an impact around the world.”

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “My warmest congratulations to both students on winning these prestigious awards. Green engineering skills and responsible care of our coastlines are key ingredients in the regeneration mix for our economy.”

Five £1,000 awards were given under the scheme; competition was intense with 51 applications received. All applicants had to write and submit a costed proposal explaining what it was they needed and how it would help their future employability.

These proposals were judged by staff at the Careers and Employment Service and by Dr Floella Benjamin, OBE DL Chancellor of the University of Exeter. The Floella Benjamin Career Development awards were devised by the University of Exeter’s Careers and Employment Service as part of a range of opportunities available to students to develop their personal skills and employability.  

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