Harper Adams hits high in student satisfaction

Posted 29 June 2006

IT’S OFFICIAL – students at Harper Adams University College are some of the most satisfied in the country.

The Shropshire-based university college has taken second place in the Student Satisfaction category of a national league table.

Harper Adams picked up a mean score of 15.9 from a possible 20 in The Times Higher League Tables for 2003 and 2004 – released earlier this month.

Commenting on the report, Professor Wynne Jones, Principal of Harper Adams University College, stated that the results were pleasing for both staff and students.

“The university college takes immense pride in ensuring all students enjoy their four-year experience here.

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised in this way and are pleased that students are pleased with both the teaching quality and experience they receive at Harper Adams.”

The research also calculated that over a three-year average the university college, which specialises in rural and land-based industries, spent £706 per student on library and computing resources and £159 per student on facilities.

It also revealed that more than 84 per cent of students completed their degree and 47.2 graduates left with a good honours – being a first degree qualifiers gaining first and upper second class honours.

As part of the league tables, the Higher Education Statistics Agency also ascertained that 89 per cent of staff at the university college has a teaching and research contract and there was a research income of £443,000 in 2003-2004.

Commenting on the league table, Professor Jones added: “The results prove that not only is Harper Adams the UK’s leading university institution serving the rural and land-based industries but often takes a leading position in institutions across the country.

“We can all take encouragement from these figures as they mean that there is a strong demand from young people to become qualified at the highest level and to commit to the future of the UK countryside.” 

These tables are compiled by Mayfield University Consultants and comprise the raw data for The Times university rankings.