HARPER ADAMS ACHIEVES RECRUITMENT SUCCESS

Posted 6 October 2003

HARPER ADAMS University College, in Shropshire, has defied pundits predicting a decline in the number of students for the food, rural and agricultural sector.

The September 2003 intake of new students has proved to be as strong as ever with applications up by a staggering 17.4 per cent, resulting in 539 new students registering at the University College.

“We are delighted to welcome a new intake of students to Harper Adams,” commented University College Principal, Professor Wynne Jones.

“The introduction of new courses, such as a BSc in Veterinary Nursing Practice Management has assisted our recruitment but it is also important to note that the ‘established’ courses have done well.

“In this respect, it is particularly pleasing to see recruitment to our Degrees and Foundation Degrees in Agriculture is up from 100 last year to 111 this year.”

Professor Jones added: “Although the national number of students coming into Agriculture is declining, the reality is that there is a tendency for students to concentrate at this one centre.”

Students come to Harper Adams from all over the United Kingdom and beyond. Typical of this year’s well-travelled intake are Lisa Maguire from County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland and James Pritchard from Jersey.

Lisa is studying for the new BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing and Practice Management degree while James is on a Foundation Degree in Agriculture. Both students have found a warm welcome at Harper Adams and Lisa in particular enthuses about her new course.

“There’s just such a great atmosphere here,” she said. “Although this is a new course, the facilities here are just brilliant. I’m missing Fermanagh of course but it’s just great to be here.”

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Caption: Lisa Maguire and James Pritchard arriving to register at Harper Adams University College.