Harper Adams shortlisted for student experience award

Posted 3 April 2014

Harper Adams University has been shortlisted for the CUBO Innovation Award for Excellence in Student Experience. 

Organised by College and University Business Officers, in association with University Business magazine, the awards recognise the achievements of those working within the UK higher education industry. 

The award submission was compiled by David Nuttall, Catering Manager, who said: “It is a great honour to have been shortlisted for this award. 

“Sustainable development and environmental consciousness is at the heart of support services at Harper Adams University. Core studies cover sustainable farming, land, animals and the food chain therefore all support services integrate thoroughly with the overall student experience. 

“From field to fork, the university’s support network envisages a food plan whereby the majority of produce is farmed and prepared self-sufficiently, right here on the university campus.

“The ethos of farm to fork runs from students learning about animal systems from the on-site commercial farm, to the catering department using the farm’s produce to feed the students. We practice what we teach!” 

Other examples of sustainability practices that enhance the student experience at Harper Adams include the use of pigs trotters (which would otherwise be classed as food waste) for veterinary nurses to practice suturing; pigs’ ears roasted as treats for the dogs volunteered for veterinary physiotherapy practical lessons; livestock offal used in a student project focussing on the use of cheaper meat cuts, which won a national prize and represented the UK in European food innovation finals.

Supply chain management taught at the university encourages food students to interact with the catering department. Mr Nuttall added: “Fairtrade sourcing is one particular topic that students engage with and Harper Adams is now in the best practice guide for Universities striving for Fairtrade status.

“We’ve got the students thinking not only about where their food comes from, but where it ends up, thanks to efforts to reduce food waste and recycle what we can through our anaerobic digestion plant.” 

The CUBO Awards will be presented to winners on July 3.