The Eden Project has announced that it will offer degree courses for the first time. The degrees will be delivered in partnership with the Cornwall College Group and awarded by Plymouth University.
Eden has a strong pedigree in formal education with more than half a million children visiting the site on school visits since it opened in March 2001. Eden and Cornwall College have also recently launched the project’s biggest-ever apprenticeship programme.
From September 2015, students on a range of courses including horticulture, event management and small-scale theatre will be able to put their skills into action at Eden.
Announcing the initiative, Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, said: “The future will belong to those who have real dirt-under-the-fingernails skills allied to an intellect that enjoys problem solving.
“Our friendship with Cornwall College led us to work together on shaping some new courses that will create a benchmark higher than any available elsewhere.
“Our passion is to offer the sort of courses we would want to go on ourselves, not dreary stuff. We want to be judged on the quality of our students, as they will become our ambassadors.”
Deputy CEO of the Cornwall College Group, Raoul Humphreys, added: “What connects The Cornwall College Group and Eden is a shared passion and belief in the power of learning to shape the world.
“We are offering the opportunity to develop both specialist and practical skills up to degree level, through studying and working in a world-class visitor attraction, renowned for its horticulture, visitor experience and ethos of excellence.”
The courses will include a BSc (Hons) Horticulture with specialist pathways in Plant Science or Garden and Landscape Design, foundation degrees (FdSc) in Horticulture and Event Management and HNC/HNDs in Garden and Landscape Design and Small-Scale Theatre (interpretation and storytelling). All these courses will be studied at Eden, following agreement from Plymouth University.
