Harper Adams graduate employment rate climbs

Posted 17 July 2008

Graduates of Harper Adams University College have again raised the bar with an excellent employment record of 99 per cent, new figures reveal

Figures for 2006/7 published by HESA, the Higher Education Statistics Agency, place the college fifth for graduate employment among about 160 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the UK, behind the Courtauld Institute of Art, Royal Academy of Music, St George's Hospital Medical School and the School of Pharmacy.

This proves yet again that Harper Adams is the leader in its field - university education for the rural industries.

Furthermore, the University College had the second highest response rate out of all HEIs in the UK, with 95.5 per cent of its 2006/7 graduates giving an update on their status through the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DHLE) survey. The response rates for the four HEIs with a better graduate employment figure ranged from only 62 to 81 per cent.

Harper Adams Principal Prof Wynne Jones said: “We are very pleased that Harper Adams graduates have again achieved such an enviable employment record.
“The University College offers quality teaching and well-designed courses which, coupled with our links with leading rural businesses and professions, and the fact that all students complete a 12-month placement in industry, leave our graduates well placed to secure good positions after graduation.

“In fact, many of the students due to graduate in September have already started work in industry. All our graduates must be congratulated for their achievements, we are proud to have welcomed them to Harper.”

The latest figure improved on the 98.3 per cent employment rate achieved by Harper Adams in last summer’s HESA performance indicators (for 2005/6 graduates).

The DHLE survey targets all United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU) domiciled students reported to HESA for the reporting period 1 August 2006 to 31 July 2007.