NEWS ARCHIVE
Falmouth Marine Enterprise Project Shortlisted for European Award
Representatives from Falmouth Marine School and Falmouth Harbour Commissioners Marine Enterprise (FaME) project have returned from an awards ceremony in Brussels where they were shortlisted for the 2011 European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award.
The ESPO Award was established in 2009 to promote innovative projects of port authorities that improve social integration of ports. This year’s theme focused on creative strategies to communicate the port to the wider public.
The FaME project is a partnership between Falmouth Marine School and Falmouth Port authority and was the only shortlisted project for the award in the UK. Harriet Knowles, Falmouth Harbour Commissioners Maritime Sustainable Development Officer said: “Although we did not win the competition, the fact that we were the only shortlisted candidate in the UK speaks volumes and we look forward to putting ourselves forward again next year.”
The FaME project enables degree students to bid for sponsorship towards their final year research project in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style interview to a panel of industry experts. Successful applicants will receive feedback on their proposals and depending on their project requirements, support can be allocated in the terms of finance, industry contacts, mentoring and support from industry experts.
Dr Claire Eatock, Programme Manager, said: "The importance of researching current issues and interacting with the business community is a vital developmental element of the degree-level programme. This project provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate their own research specialities and to communicate within a real business context delivering live projects to a high professional standard in preparation for their next steps in education or employment.”
The venture encourages the sharing of resources, joined up research and raises the awareness of the port whilst providing the students with real industry experience. In addition to bidding for their projects, the students are required to present their research at the annual research day to professionals in the marine industry.
Captain Mark Sansom, Harbour Master and Chief Executive of Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, said: "The partnership enables Falmouth Harbour Commissioners to address skills issues at a local educational level whilst ensuring a sustainable and cost effective source of research of the port environment."
Dave Linnell, Principal of Cornwall College, of which Falmouth Marine School is part, commented: "The college has 30 years of experience in providing university courses which are designed with employers to ensure they meet the needs of industry. At our resent OFSTED inspection we gained an 'outstanding' for our work with employers; this programme is a prime example of that work."
