The inaugural Business and Food undergraduate research mini-conference was a huge success.

The inaugural Business and Food undergraduate research mini-conference is a huge success.

The inaugural Harper Adams Business and Food mini-conference was held this week – giving final-year students the chance to showcase their research.

Students from the university’s  Food and Business undergraduate degree programmes were given the chance to make 20-minute presentations on their research proposals, as well as displaying an academic poster detailing their ongoing Honours Research Projects. 

Staff were on hand to provide feedback and support to those presenting their work

Conference organiser and Senior lecturer in Economics, Hairong Mu, said: “The first mini-conference of Undergraduate Research in Business and Food was the first of its kind to be held at Harper Adams University and was a great success.

“There were some fantastic talks by students on their Honours Research Projects and all the audience were impressed by the level of professionalism demonstrated by the undergraduates.

 “The conference was also an excellent opportunity to bring international students together with UK students for them to share ideas and get inspired from each other.

“One student told me after the event that it was really interesting hearing everyone’s research ideas, as there was such a diverse range - and that it was really helped them reflect on their work.

“I’d like to thank all the staff and students who were involved and participated, making it such a wonderful event!”

The event was supported by Head of the Food, Land and Agri-Business Management Department, Rebecca Payne and Director of Education, Professor Lydia Arnold.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Michael Lee was a keen participant in the conference, asking pertinent questions of a number of participants - as well as presenting prizes at the closing ceremony.

He said: “The event was a great success and I wish to congratulate all the students involved. I was delighted to see such engaging, industry applicable research projects, presented with great skill, passion and pride by all the students.

“A huge thank you to Hairong for organising and Becky and Lydia for supporting. I also wish especially to thank all the students for their dedicated work and the great support given to them by all my colleagues who supervise HRP’s.”

Poster presentations underway! #HarperAdams #DegreesThatMatter pic.twitter.com/Q0HdfWusSk

— Harper Adams University (@HarperAdamsUni) February 22, 2022

A plethora of topics were covered including, “Consumer Attitudes Towards Meat Substitutes in Fast Food Restaurants” and “People management concepts implemented in elite sport and degree of transference to business”.

At the end of the conference, Grace Hall and Will Owen were awarded prizes for best presentation and best poster respectively. Joy Chen and Helen Han won Student Award for Best Presentation and Best Poster.