17th October 2025
A new partnership between Cornwall College University Centre at the Eden Project and Imerys will strengthen links between higher education, modern mining and large-scale environmental restoration in Cornwall.
The University Centre, run as a partnership between Cornwall College Group and the Eden Project, have announced a new programme of collaboration with local employer Imerys focused on ecological restoration and environmental management.
The partnership will connect university-level students with live restoration sites across mid-Cornwall, linking classroom learning with real-world applications in modern mining and land recovery.
Imerys, which manages extensive kaolin operations in the region, has restored thousands of hectares of post-mining land, including the planting of more than 100,000 trees this year at Dubbers, near Nanpean and Whitemoor. The company’s ongoing work provides a unique opportunity for students to study nature recovery in action.
Through this partnership, Cornwall College University Centre students will gain access to Imerys sites for bi-annual field visits, mapping and survey projects and drone-based monitoring. The initiative will also create new opportunities for work experience and volunteering, as well as industry guest lectures and dissertation support from Imerys specialists.
The collaboration will enable students on programmes such as the MSc Ecological Restoration & Environmental Management, delivered in partnership with the University of Plymouth, to deepen their understanding of environmental recovery and sustainability within active industry settings.
“Working with Imerys provides MSc students with the opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge needed to become future leaders and change-makers at a critical time,” said Dr Zeinab Smillie, Programme Manager at Cornwall College University Centre.
“The programme combines in-depth training in environmental management and ecological restoration, with extensive hands-on experience in both fieldwork and laboratory settings, in close collaboration with Eden Project colleagues.”
Peter Sawford, Environmental Manager at Imerys, added: “We are in such a great position to work in this way with Cornwall College and its students – the relationship will really benefit everyone involved.
“We can provide access to land as it is being restored, which is fascinating to study. The faculty and students can provide us with invaluable data and expert insight into how the projects are progressing. We’re all delighted to get this partnership off the ground.”
Both organisations will continue to develop the partnership into 2026 and beyond, with shared aims of advancing environmental education, community engagement and sustainable land use across Cornwall.
To find out more about the degree level programmes available with Cornwall College University Centre, visit HERE
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