Uni partners charity for MA course

Monday 2nd April 2012

A charity-backed post-graduate course in international disaster relief management could be open to students by September 2013.

The course is currently being developed by Cornwall-based ShelterBox in partnership with Plymouth University as part of a link up between the two organisations.

The partnership will also lead to students taking part in fundraising for ShelterBox, and the charity providing leadership training and residential courses.

Tom Henderson OBE, ShelterBox founder and chief executive officer, said: "ShelterBox and Plymouth University share the same values of innovation, quality and creativity and I look forward to seeing this relationship develop to produce the humanitarians of the future. The partnership will have a local and global impact as well as offering students in the south west and beyond a world-leading centre for their studies."

ShelterBox, based in Helston, works worldwide, helping communities affected by floods, cyclones, tropical storms and other disasters.

As part of the new partnership, research opportunities will be provided across activities such as psychology, design and sustainability while volunteering and awareness raising activities will now be advertised on the uni campus.

Professor Wendy Purcell, vice-chancellor and chief executive of Plymouth University, said: "Plymouth University has a strong ethos of working in partnership with community partners such as ShelterBox to help shape a more prosperous, safer world.

"This new partnership will see our two distinguished, world-class organisations working together to tackle a range of issues facing ShelterBox and the communities in which it operates, as well as offering some fantastic opportunities for our students to develop skills in fundraising, communication and leadership.

"It also represents our continued commitment to working within Cornwall, a value that ShelterBox is well known for sharing."

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