Surf School News

First Week for Surf Science Students at Lusty Glaze Beach

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 October, 2006 : - - Students from across the country and abroad arrived at Lusty Glaze beach in Cornwall this week to join Britain's first beach based university degree course.

A total of 11 students, including two from Germany and one from Austria, have taken places on the innovative Surf Science & Technology Foundation Degree (FdSc), allowing them to utilise the outstanding natural resources of one of Cornwall's most scenic beaches.

While the two-year course is heavily science focused, the students will have the opportunity to take modules on the sport and business sides of surfing. The foundation degree leads into the final year of a full degree course and successful students are expected to enter careers such as product design, hydrodynamic engineering, beach management, retail, marketing, PR, event management and corporate sponsorship.

During their first week in Cornwall, the students were quite literally thrown in at the deep end as they were required to train for beach lifeguard qualifications and meet some leading figures from Britain's booming surf industry.

As well as being an education first nationally, the Surf Science course represents a major breakthrough for Cornwall College's beachside education centre which got the go-ahead for the foundation degree following accreditation by the University of Plymouth's UPC (University Plymouth Colleges) faculty. 

The beach is already home to The Adventure Centre, an acclaimed multi-activity provider, and The Training Centre, which runs lifeguard, first aid and emergency rescue training courses.

Since 2004, the centre has also offered further education courses in partnership with Cornwall College. The introduction of this new higher education course at Lusty Glaze boosts the ever expanding education opportunities available in the Newquay area and across Cornwall made possible by the Combined Universities Initiative (CUC).

John Latham, CEO and Principal of the Cornwall College Group said: "This is a very exciting time for education in Newquay.  The courses on offer really benefit from the unique environment in which they are delivered; what could be better than enjoying the stunning Cornish coast while studying to a university level?"

Located on golden sands, surrounded by high cliffs and lapped by Atlantic rollers, Lusty Glaze makes an idyllic venue for degree study. Undergraduates on the Surf Science course have the benefit of a purpose built classroom with IT facilities, plus first-class surf right on their doorstep.

Course leader Brender Willmott commented: "Lusty Glaze is an amazing place to work and study. We've invested heavily in classroom facilities and brought in lecturers who are renowned experts in surfing and surf business in this country.

"While researching this course, we talked to many people in surf companies and organisations and identified the need for well-rounded graduates who have an overall understanding of how the industry works."

Surf Science student Oktavia Laschkewitz, 19, from Frankfurt, Germany, who wants to work in board design and production, commented: "To live and study on the beach is a dream come true. I've been surfing since I was eight years old and this course will hopefully allow me to turn my hobby into a career."

Fellow student Steve Gale, 23, from Plymouth is equally enthusiastic about the prospects the course offers. He said: "I got into surfing when I was living in Australia and realised I had a real skill and passion for the sport. When I returned home, I decided I wanted to pursue a career in the surf industry. I knew a similar course was available in Plymouth but when I learned I could study here in Newquay on the beach I was sold.

On completion of the course, Steve would like to work in on technological side of the sport, such as exploring new materials and methods in surfboard and wetsuit manufacture.

He added: "Surfing in Australia is much more advanced than it is here. If we want to push the sport forward in this country we need to work a lot harder on things like coaching and board design. Courses like this will give people the knowledge and skills to help shape the future of the sport and industry."

Owing to the recent upgrade of classroom facilities at the beach, a few more places on the course are available for the right candidates. For further information, please contact course leader Brender Willmott on 01637 872444.
ENDS

For more information, contact details and filming and photo opportunities, please contact: Elliot Walker PR & Marketing Cornwall College at Lusty Glaze Tel: 01637 860031


New! Get the latest news with Surfersvillage News-Alerts

  Updated & Revised European Surforecasts
  More European surfing news available here


Elliot Walker

Surf School - Surfersvillage