Community connections
We strive to embed ourselves as an integral part of our community. We do this through outreach and volunteering, conducting world-class research, and a commitment to improving the Cornish economy.
Investing in the community
We encourage scholarship and engagement by delivering outreach activities with local schools, for example, How Science Works is an exciting collaboration between Penryn College and the University of Exeter that brings animated science experiments to local primary schools. Our student volunteers work with primary school staff on a weekly basis to help the children with their arranged activities. The event culminates in all schools attending the How Science Works Conference, an exciting afternoon of biscuit-eating and scientific discussion!
The Exeter Scholars programme is the University’s flagship widening participation (WP) programme, working with eligible school and college students from years 10 to 13 across the south west and nationally, which involves approximately 1000 students every year. The programmes include in-person and virtual events, online courses, subject-specific content, and advice, guidance, and support for the two years prior to applying to university, and a preferential offer from us if they choose to apply to the University of Exeter.
This academic year, there are two Penryn-based subject strands on the Year 12 south west pathway, which together have a total of 51 students currently on them. There is also one subject strand that is split between Exeter and Penryn, which has 29 students currently on it.
At the moment, we have a total of 58 students from four Cornish schools on our Year 10 tutoring pathway and have allocated 16 Cornish students onto our Year 10 virtual residential pathway.
We also sponsor local sports teams such as Penryn RFC Colts, Penryn Netball Club Juniors and Falmouth Community Youth Football Club. ,
Institute of Cornish Studies
The Institute of Cornish Studies brings together academic research in and about Cornwall. Take a look at the website to see some of the impacts our research is having locally.
Our economic impact
The University of Exeter contributes almost £1.6 billion of output to the UK economy and supports 15,500 jobs through its economic activities and the impact of student and visitor spending.
An independent economic study by Oxford Economics, based upon the University’s activities during the 2020/21 academic year found that our work has a profound impact on the regional and local economies where our Exeter and Cornwall campuses and research sites are situated. Through our own expenditure, and by attracting students and visitors who in turn spend money, we stimulate thousands of local jobs and support economic activity.
Our economic impact in Cornwall
In the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly local partnership area our Gross Value-Added (GVA) contribution, the amount of value that the University adds to the Gross Domestic Product of the Cornwall economy, was £73.5m in 2020/21. This contribution comprised of day-to-day operations and spending with suppliers and on wages (£47.2 million), the spending of our students (£26.1 million) and their visitors (£0.2 million)
The economic impact from students
Students make a sizeable contribution to our local economy through their expenditure on housing, travel, food, entertainment, course costs, and personal spending. Not accounting tuition fees, the average subsistence spending per student was £13,700 per year in 2020/21. This expenditure contributed around £26.1 million to GVA across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.
The University of Exeter’s teaching and research facilities draw students from the rest of the UK and retains local students who might otherwise go elsewhere to study. It also attracted students from more than 130 countries around the world in 2020/21.
The economic impact of research
Whether it is world-leading climate science, life-changing health and medicine or innovative, interdisciplinary humanities and social science enquiry, the University’s research is making the world greener, healthier and fairer.
Staff based at our Cornwall campuses generated 18% (£17m) of the University’s total research funding during 2020/21 and created 16% (946) of its research outputs.
Our impact on jobs
We supported 1,900 jobs across Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly during 2020/21withday-to-day operations and spending with suppliers and on wages amounting to £47.2m and 1,370 jobs. The impact of student expenditure amounting to 520 jobs andthe spending of visitors £0.2 million and 10 jobs
The impact of our campus operations
In 2020/21 total 913 of the University’s employees lived in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and we employed 671 people on the Cornwall campuses and spent £12.1m on operational goods and services with almost 320 suppliers in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly.
We spent £1.2m on capital expenditure with firms located in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and spending with local suppliers and contractors contributed £9.5 million to local GVA and supported 400 jobs during 2020/21
To find out more about our economic impact in Cornwall, read the full report.
Institute of Cornish Studies
The Institute of Cornish Studies brings together academic research in and about Cornwall. Take a look at the website to see some of the impacts our research is having locally.
Publically accessible facilities
Our Penryn campus is an important community resource that everyone can enjoy.
Penryn Campus holds the Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The beautiful grounds, open all year round, blend historic sub-tropical gardens with newly created landscapes, famous shrub collections, terraces, parkland, orchards and woodlands.
The gardening team are working to protect and increase the biodiversity of the gardens with increased wildflowers, tree planting and organic gardening methods.
The Penryn Campus parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9.00am, starting outside Tremough House. This is a free, friendly, inclusive event where you can run, walk or jog the 5K route at your own speed.
For more information, visit the websiteor email penryncampus@parkrun.com
The Sports Centre at Penryn Campus has a 90-station gym with qualified Fitness Advisors to provide advice and guidance. The studio offers over 40 weekly classes, including Bodypump and Bodycombat, Spinning, Yoga and Pilates. You can get access via a membership or ‘pay as you go’.
The Sports Hall and the outdoor Multi-Use Games Area, (MUGA) can also be hired. The Sports Hall is also a popular choice for children’s parties with a bouncy castle.
You are welcome to use and join our reference libraries. Find out more about our collections, special events and how to register on our Library website - or pop in and ask at the desk.
High quality childcare and education for children up to five years, for the families of staff, students and the local community.
Whatever your needs, our Conference and Events team can provide a bespoke and professional service to create and deliver you event.
Summer Accommodation
Exclusively available in July and August, our affordable, self-contained economy Glasney rooms and 7-bed flats are perfect for couples and group visits to Cornwall.
Whether it’s a quiet coffee or a hearty breakfast or lunch, we cater for everyone. Our cafés and bar serve a wide range of drinks, hot and cold meals and snacks at reasonable prices.
Our well-stocked campus shop sells a wide variety of foods including fresh, hot local pasties and also has a refill section.
Contact us
If you have a query or concern, would like to use our facilities or want to get involved in our outreach events, we want to hear from you.
| Type of enquiry |
Who to contact |
|---|---|
| General queries or help reaching a member of staff |
Penryn Campus main reception Phone: +44 (0) 1326 370 400 |
| Schools and outreach events |
Outreach team Phone: +44 (0)1326 371858 |
| Press and communications |
Rachel Caunter, Campaign Manager for the Cornwall Campuses Phone: +44 (0)1326 255166 |
| Businesses | See our Business pages for details of how we can work with you and who to contact. |
| Report a concern |
Community Support team Phone: +44 (0)1326 370737 |
