Advancing Skills for Professionals in the Rural Economy

What is a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning?

In January 2005 the Government awarded 74 universities and collegesthe Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), in recognition of demonstrated excellence in higher education.

Harper Adams was selected in recognition of its work in:

• Helping students develop their academic and professional skills
• Providing work-based learning for sandwich students
• Meeting the continuing professional development needs of rural professionals requiring short-courses and part-time study
• Supporting those with a disability

The judges awarded the status and associated funds based on evidence from external reviews, student progression and achievement data, graduate employment track record and student satisfaction.

It is the only award made to an institution or university faculty that specialises in supporting the needs of the rural economy, land-based and food sectors.

What will ASPIRE do?

The purpose of the Aspire Centre will be to promote excellence in teaching and learning in higher education. Staff will work with students from Harper Adams and colleagues from other universities or colleges, to develop innovative ways to teach and support learning.

The work will specifically focus on supporting:

• Placement learning
• Continuing professional development through part-time and work-based learning
• Transferable academic and professional skills (communication, numeracy, IT, problem solving, team work, personal development and career management)
• Learner support for disabled students and those needing assistance to develop specific study or numeracy skills
• Learning using information and communication technologies

What additional resources does ASPIRE provide?

The Higher Education Funding Council for England has granted Harper Adams University College £1.8 million to reward its excellence and enable further excellence to be developed and shared with others.

The funds will be used to:

• Create a centre in the heart of the campus which will provide staff, students and rural professionals with a stimulating place to work and study
• Improve the IT platform so that learning technologies can be enhanced through an improved learning environment and support for campus-based students and distance learners
• Provide the specialist support, professional development, time and rewards to encourage and enable staff and students to develop and evaluate learning and teaching innovations
• Harness the imagination and creativity of staff to develop and reflect on innovative approaches to learning and learner support, through Aspire fellowships
• Support staff to share their work and findings, internally, and externally through speaking at learning & teaching events, contributing to research-based publications and by providing opportunities for inward secondment