Harper shortlisted for THE award

Posted 14 April 2011

Harper Adams was today revealed as a finalist for the top honour at the Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2011.

The University College is on a short-list of six for the Outstanding Leadership and Management Team category in the awards, which are open to all higher education (HE) institutions in the UK – more than 130 in total.

The winner, to be announced on June 16 at a ceremony in London, will be the institution that demonstrates the greatest breadth and depth of leadership and management skills across a wide range of functions, including research management, fundraising, finance, ICT, estates and knowledge transfer.

Writing in the Times Higher Education Magazine today (April 14), Editor Anne Mroz said: “Our sector, like every other, has already gone through some tough times and is facing more turbulence as the new funding regime beds in. But a glance at the shortlist for our Leadership and Management Awards is enough to instil confidence that we have the right people in place to continue to prosper and deliver the world-class higher education for which the country is rightly renowned.”

Harper Adams, in Shropshire, is the UK’s leading specialist HE institution for the food chain and rural sector. 

Recent achievements include: the University College’s highest ever level of student recruitment, the highest rate of higher education admissions from low socio-economic groups, the opening of a new student services building, halls of residence and Regional Food Academy; the extension of global food security education and research, development of a 10-year collaboration with Beijing Agricultural College, a substantial increase in research income, and the delivery of 11% of the sector’s students on employer engagement programmes, connecting in novel ways with industry and employers to provide higher-level skills development.

Harper Adams Vice-Principal Professor Peter Mills said: “We are delighted to be one of the finalists for this accolade. The Harper Adams Leadership and Management Team works tirelessly to ensure that the reputation of the institution in its specialist field is second to none. Our staff and students are deeply committed to both Harper Adams and the sector it serves and, under the direction of our leaders and managers, work hard to provide a true community of learning which is thoroughly deserving of this award.”