Welcome Week courses day brings a range of challenges for new students

During Welcome Week, students have been getting to know the campus, each other, lecturers and the local area. One feature of Welcome Week is "course day", when the lecturers take over to bring everyone in their cohorts together ahead of teaching starting next week. 

Environment, Sustainability and Wildlife 

Those studying Environment, Sustainability and Wildlife courses took a trip to Cannock Chase to explore the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Course Manager Lucy Crockford wrote: "Today was my second favourite day of the year, the day we take the first years to Cannock Chase. We also had our wonderful foundation years, transfers and top-up students come too.

"There's something about being away for the day... the students spend time getting to know each other and I feel like everyone enjoys the day.

"I couldn't do it without my fabulous lecturers, so thank you John Reade , Alexander Miles , Samuel Eze, Paul O'Hagan, Matthew Hill and Paul Lewis) for all you did today. Roll on teaching next week!"

Agriculture

New agriculture students have already explored the Harper Adams Future Farm. Course Manager Louisa Dines said they were given a farm tour and set a challenge whilst they got to know each other. The farm will be a vital resource for the students, providing research, data and case studies to support their learning. They can also take courses in practical farm skills in their spare time if they wish. 

Agriculture lecturer Nicky Naylor wrote: "Welcome week is all about meeting new friends, learning about their course and establishing belonging. As part of the new tradition, they have spelled out HAU and Agric for their drone photo, done a spot of people bingo, competed against each other in pairs moving bags of sheep feed whilst blindfolded, and rounded it off with a fascinating trip to Grosvenor Estate. Here’s to the next 3-4 years of their Harper student journey. Nicky shared a TikTok of the students' action-packed day.

Engineering

Those studying Engineering enjoyed range of activities on campus. Course Manager James Croxford wrote: "Brilliant fun as our new Harper Adams University Engineering students played our game Destination+, hunting treasure and taking selfies all over campus! The sun came out for a picnic, and we finished it off with some good old-fashioned Lego!"

The Engineering Department also took the opportunity to bring all of the engineering students together to visit the Digital Skills Hub at The Quad, the University's central Telford site. Whilst some student will be based mainly at the Quad (Robotics) and others at Edgmond, all will have access to facilities on both sites, it was important for the course team to bring them all together. 

"Are you going to work your whole life to build someone else's dream?" asked inspirational guest speaker Nigel Birch of European Innovation Ltd Telford

Digital

At the Digital Skills Hub, new students on Applied Data Science or Robotics, Automation and Mechatronic Engineering Degrees took part in a Hackathon: HacktheQuad2025. 

Archie Homer, Lecturer in Digital Business Technologies, is shown getting ready for the Hackathon, and Senior Lecturer and robotics specialist Sam Wane is pictured  guiding the students:

Land and Property Management

The large new intake of Land and Property Management students  - our nation's future rural surveyors and estate managers, took part in “Games In The Woods” team-building activities set up by teaching staff. 

Lecturer Andrew Black wrote that he had “Lots of fun watching everyone take part in teambuilding games whilst eating cake and drinking tasty drinks”. The event was supported by second year students, including execs from the students’ Land Management Society, and Harper Adams Business School colleagues (and land management lecturers) Mark Simcock (Course Manager), Itua Omokhomion, Rachel Griffiths and Robyn Harper.

Business

Year one Agribusiness, Food Business and Business Management spent their Welcome Week away day in the Ironbridge Gorge, Southwater and at the Quad.

Year One Course Tutor Zoe Harrison said their day included online games to get used to communication methods used by the course team, whilst also connecting with each other and the different cultures represented by the students.

In the Ironbridge Gorge, they took in some heritage and history, then they stopped off at Southwater, Telford’s leisure zone, home to restaurants, cinema, bowling and other entertainment venues, before visiting The Quad.

There they were introduced to the facilities, which will be particularly useful for students who are commuting to the university rather than living on site or nearby, offering an alternative work space close to rail and bus links.