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Harper Adams University

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Harper Adams University, founded in 1901 as Harper Adams College, is a public university located close to the village of Edgmond, near Newport, in Shropshire, England. Established in 1901, the college is a specialist provider of higher education for the agricultural and rural sector. It gained university college status in 1998, and university status in 2012.[3]

Harper Adams University
Coat of Arms
Harper Adams University
Former name
Harper Adams Agricultural College
MottoUtile Dulci (Latin)
Motto in English
Useful and agreeable
TypePublic
Established1901: as Harper Adams Agricultural College
1998: gained University college status
2012: gained University Status
ChancellorThe Princess Royal
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Ken Sloan
Students5,070 (2022/23)[1]
Undergraduates4,630 (2022/23)[1]
Postgraduates440 (2022/23)[1]
Other students
60 FE[2]
Location
Edgmond
,
Shropshire
,
TF10 8NB
,
United Kingdom

52°46′47″N 2°25′39″W / 52.779651°N 2.427517°W / 52.779651; -2.427517
Websitewww.harper-adams.ac.uk
The university's main building

The university provides more than 50 foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes to students from over 30 countries. The university is set within a 494-hectare working farm.[4]

History

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Harper Adams College, which would become the university, was founded in 1901. Its first principal was Headworth Foulkes (1901–1922). Thomas Harper Adams, a wealthy Shropshire gentleman farmer, died in 1892, bequeathing the estate which was the original foundation. The college had just six students to begin with.

In 1909 a specialist poultry husbandry was created.[5]

During the First World War, Harper Adams remained open, and in 1915 the first women were admitted into the college on wartime farm courses. Harper Adams was the first institute to do so, and in 1916 women were admitted as full-time students onto a wide variety of courses. Approximately, 200 staff and former students served during the war and 40 are known to have died as a result.[6] In 2015, 10 additional names were added to the university's memorial board, after previously unrecorded alumni were also discovered to have been killed in action.[7] A board in the Old Library listing the names of those killed was dedicated in March 2015, crafted by Peter Nunn of the university's estate department, and a new memorial garden was also created outside the library.

The agricultural depression of the 1920s onward led to a drop in student numbers. In 1922, Charles Crowther (1922–1944) became Principal and efforts were taken to ensure the College stayed open. The National Institute of Poultry Husbandry opened in 1926, giving Harper a high profile in areas of teaching and research. The college remained open during the Second World War. Bill Price (1946–1962) became Principal in 1946 and student numbers steadily rose to 222. The Jubilee Hostel was opened in 1951.[8]

 
A wintertime view from the university's west lawn

Reginald Kenny was principal from 1962 until 1977, followed by Tony Harris from 1977 until 1994. In 1964, the funding of the college was passed from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Department of Education and Science. The first Higher National Diploma students were enrolled in 1969. Degree courses were first introduced in 1981; Harper Adams was one of the first institutions to introduce a BSc. sandwich course. The CNAA granted Harper Adams the authority to validate its own courses. In 1985, the science building was opened by Princess Margaret.[8]

Student numbers passed 1000 for the first time in 1991. In 1994, three new student residences were opened. Wynn Jones became principal in 1996, and later that year the Privy Council granted the university degree awarding powers. In 1998, Harper Adams gained the title of University College. In 2004, Harper Adams was awarded £2.1 million in funding to develop its work with rural businesses. Harper Adams gained the power to award research degrees in 2006 and shortly after, a new Biomass Hall was opened. Dr David Llewellyn was appointed principal in 2009.[9] That September, a new £2.3 million dairy unit was opened[10] and in December, a £3 million Regional Food Academy (RFA) was officially opened by The Princess Royal.[11] In 2010, Nick Herbert opened a Postgraduate and Professional Development Centre, and in the same year the Faccenda student centre and a new student hall of residence were opened. Ken Sloan was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University in 2021, its eighth institutional leader.

 
Bamford Library, opened in 2003

Harper Adams is an academic sponsor of the JCB Academy, which opened in 2010. JCB Academy was the first university technical college to be established in England.[12]

In December 2012, Harper Adams had the title 'university' conferred upon it. This ended the institution's long history of being a college and consequently, Harper Adams became Shropshire's first university.[13][14]

In 2020, the University received its first student intake to Harper and Keele Veterinary School, a new joint venture with Keele University offering a BVetMS degree.[15]

Campus

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The campus is on farm land on the outskirts of Edgmond near Newport, Shropshire. Over the last decade more than £45 million has been invested in the campus.[citation needed] Harper Adams operates a 494-hectare commercial farm on campus.[citation needed] Undergraduate students live on campus in one of 15 halls.[16]

 
The university's main campus, seen from above

Organisation

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Academic departments

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Undergraduate courses are offered via 5 academic departments and courses fall under 10 broad subject areas

  • Agriculture
  • Animal Sciences (behaviour and welfare)
  • Business and Agri-Food
  • Environment, Sustainability and Wildlife
  • Engineering
  • Food Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Land and Property Management
  • Veterinary Nursing
  • Veterinary Physiotherapy
  • Zoology

Academics

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Research

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In 2014 Harper Adams University has been recognised for the quality of its research by the Research Excellence Framework.[17]

Areas of research include; management of soil and water, crop disease resistance, agricultural technology, livestock carbon footprint reduction, genetic approaches to improving food quality, bioenergy and renewable sources, agricultural landscape biodiversity, pedagogy and animal welfare.[18]

Research facilities

Facilities for the university's research work include:

  • Elizabeth Creak Building
  • Princess Margaret Science Laboratories
  • Jean Jackson Entomology Building
  • Crop and Environment Research Centre
  • Dairy Crest Innovation Centre
  • Poultry Research Unit
  • Regional Food Academy

Hands Free Hectare

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Since 2016 the "Hands Free Hectare" project within the engineering department has been developing robotic farming operations.[19]

Ranking and awards

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Awards

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  • In 2016 Harper Adams University was voted university of the year.[20]

Rankings

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Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025)[22]33
Times / Sunday Times (2025)[23]53
Global rankings
QS (2025)[24]1201–1400

Sunday Times

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  • UK University of the Year, runner up 2020[25]
  • Top 20 Universities, (ranked 17th) 2019,[25]
  • Best Modern University, 2017 and 2019[25]
  • Top 50 UK Universities, 2011.[26]
  • Best University College, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

Times Higher Education

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  • UK's Best Modern University, 2017.[27]
  • 1st Student Experience, 2017

Employment

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The 2020 Graduate Outcomes survey showed 98.8% were in work or further study 15 months after completing their studies.[28]

Sports

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Harper Adams has a variety of sports clubs, including rugby, shooting, football, hockey, fencing, netball, polo, tug of war, basketball, motorsport, off-roading, rowing, running, field sports, equestrian and mountain biking. The university competes in the British Universities and Colleges Sport leagues and championships.[29]

 
Harper Adams University Men's 1st VIII at BUCS, Summer 2016

Rowing

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Harper Adams University Boat Club (HAURC) is located at Pengwern Boat Club on the River Severn in Shrewsbury.[30] Members compete in the BUCS Rowing League, local regattas. The club's registered blades are dark blue, cyan and gold.[31]

Shooting

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Harper Adams University Clay Shooting Club (HAUSC) is the largest club in the university with over 100 members.[32] The club competes in local competitions, BUCS League, the Countryside Alliance Cirencester Cup Competition and also holds private matches against the Royal Agricultural University and St Andrews University. The HAUSC is consistently placed amongst the most successful shooting clubs in the UK. In 2011 and 2012, the HAUSC won the national title at the BUCS Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships.[33]

Motorsport

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The Motorsport Team has its own VW Golf GTi rally car and Ford Fiesta R2 National.[34][35] In January 2017, the team announced a partnership with the M-Sport World Rally Team. The team regularly competes in BRC events.[35]

Coat of arms and flag

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The arms of the university are those of the Harper Adams family, which were formally transferred to the university by letters patent presented in May 2018 Rouge Croix Pursuivant, of the College of Arms in May 2018.[36] As a banner of arms these are in use as the university flag.

The arms appear in stained glass in the main building.[37]

 
HRH The Princess Royal, Chancellor of Harper Adams University

Governance

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Chancellor

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The Chancellor of Harper Adams University has been HRH The Princess Royal since 2013.[14] This is a ceremonial role.

List of College Principals and University Vice-Chancellors

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  • Hedworth Foulkes (1901–1922)
  • Charles Crowther (1922–1944)
  • Bill Price (1946–1962)
  • Reginald Kenney (1962–1977)
  • Tony Harris (1977–1994)
  • Graham McConnell (1994-1996)
  • Wynne Jones (1996–2009)
  • David Llewelyn (2009–2021): the role was renamed Vice-Chancellor on full university status being conferred in 2012.
  • Ken Sloan (2021–present)

Notable people

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Notable alumni

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Notable governors

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Honorary degree and fellowship holders

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Adam Henson holds an honorary degree from the university.

Notable staff

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Ruth Archer, a character played by English actress Felicity Finch in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers, attended Harper Adams University College as part of her fictional backstory.[62]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Table 0a – All students by institution, mode of study, level of study, gender and domicile 2006/07" (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Higher Education Statistics Agency. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  3. ^ "University: What's in a Title? | GuildHE". guildhe.ac.uk. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. ^ "Harper Adams University". Independent.co.uk. 16 July 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. ^ "About – History | Harper Adams University". Harper-adams.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ^ Francis, Peter (2013). Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. YouCaxton Publications. pp. 68–69. ISBN 978-1-909644-11-3.
  7. ^ "Dedication of new memorial to alumni who fell in First World War". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Why Harper? – Harper Adams University". www.harper-adams.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  9. ^ "Appointment of new Principal at Harper Adams – Farming UK News". www.farminguk.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  10. ^ "DairyCo chairman opens Harper Adams' new £2.3m dairy unit". dairy.ahdb.org.uk. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Midlands food academy opens". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
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  14. ^ a b "Princess Royal officially installed as Harper Adams University chancellor". BBC News. 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
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  51. ^ a b "The Duke of Buccleuch and Adam Henson to receive honorary degrees at Harper Adams graduation". Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  52. ^ a b "Graduation 2015". Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  53. ^ a b c "Five Honorary Degrees and Fellowships awarded at Graduation". Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
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  57. ^ a b "Honorary degrees and fellowships 2011". Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  58. ^ "HRH The Princess Royal to be first Chancellor of Harper Adams University". Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
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  60. ^ "Staff Directory – Dr David Llewellyn – Harper Adams University". Harper-adams.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
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  62. ^ BBC iPlayer Radio, BBC Radio 4, David and Ruth Archer go head-to-head Archived 2 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 5 September 2018
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