SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Harper Adams: a Year in Review Part Two

Posted Today

July

Harper & Keele Veterinary School marked a historic milestone with the graduation of its first student cohort.

The landmark occasion celebrated the academic achievements of the School’s pioneering class and marked their formal entry into the veterinary profession, with many of the 90 newly-qualified vets having already secured a role.

The cohort graduated in the morning at Keele University, before making their way to SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ for a second ceremony, during which they were welcomed as official members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), pledging their commitment to ensure the health and welfare of animals under their care.

A group of Telford sixth form students celebrated at the University – and in Westminster - after the programme they were on won a national award.

The students had been taking part in a Future Leaders programme, funded by and hosted at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, which was named the winner of the Leadership in Widening Participation Future Leaders award at an event in London.

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ was the number one UK University for graduate employment, according to national statistics.

The institution was also the leading University across a range of other employment measures in the 2025 Graduate Outcomes figures.  

These follow the progress students who completed their studies in 2023, showing how many were in work or further study 15 months later.  

Overall, Harper Adams ranks first among universities in the UK for the proportion of all graduates in work and further study; the proportion of full-time undergraduates in work or further study; and the proportion of full-time undergraduates in full-time employment.  

A scholar aiming to use his graduate career to ‘advocate for Welsh agriculture’ won the 2025 Harper Cymry/Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Student of the Year award.

Osian Richards, who grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Llangadog, Carmarthenshire, said: “Receiving the award at the Royal Welsh Show was an enormous honour. I’ve been attending the Show since I was a child in a pram, and the show truly represents the heart of Welsh agriculture - and remains a highlight of my year. That personal connection made the award all the more meaningful.”

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s Catering Team celebrated after their work on sustainability won a national award. 

The team picked up the Sustainability Award at the TUCO awards - run by the leading professional membership body for in-house caterers operating in the higher, further education and public sector.

The team were judged to be the most sustainable in the country in one of just six awards given out during the evening. 

August

A Shropshire cheesemaker who honed her skills at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ secured fresh accolades for her produce. 

Millie Preece's company, The Dairy Door, started from humble beginnings on her family’s farm – but has since seen her win prizes at the International Cheese & Dairy Awards for her cheese and at the Great Taste awards in 2022 for her fudge. 

Her produce scooped further accolades at the prestigious Royal Welsh Show - a Gold award for her St Bartie's Brie-style cheese in the Young Producers class, and a Bronze for her white Stilton-style cheese, The Ledge, in the Farmhouse category. 

An award-winning student set to begin a rural consultancy career after graduating from Harper Adams said his time at University opened doors he “never expected."

Tom York, from Ledsham near Chester, was named one of the winners of the  Student Awards for 2025 in August.

The Society cited Tom’s academic excellence, practical contributions to agriculture, and dedication to mental health awareness as they announced his award.

Growing interest in food and farming saw SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ academics talking to national newspapers and radio programmes about the phenomenon.

Professor Ken Sloan and Senior Lecturer Andrew Black were among those who were quizzed by national titles, with Professor Sloan telling the BBC: “Everything we can do to expose a broader range of people to the excitement, and the complexity, and the challenges that are available to people who go into land-focused careers has got to be attractive.”

September

The University’s ongoing commitment to working with businesses to tackle challenges and drive growth was highlighted in new Knowledge Exchange Framework figures.

Director of Business Development and Knowledge Exchange, Alastair Dawes, said “Engaging our innovative staff and students with industrial partners sits at the centre of our university strategy.

“As Shropshire’s University, we’re proud that our work makes a measurable difference to our regional and national partners – including Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire Councils, as well as many businesses across the county and beyond.”

Experts from SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ helped develop an important report for the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils.

The report examined ways in which the tension between the scarcity of natural resources and the need to provide for an ever-growing can be reconciled.

The University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Lee, said: “SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s role in the report is a testament, not only to our depth and breadth of knowledge across the sustainability sciences, but also our eagerness to engage with all stakeholders involved in achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.”

The first-ever Harper Adams team appeared on BBC Two's University Challenge.

Read Team Captain John Owen's reflections on their appearance here.

The Class of 2025 were told they are “the next generation of pioneers” at the University’s annual Graduation ceremony.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan said: “From its beginnings in 1901, Harper Adams has been about making a difference in agriculture and its allied professions.  

“In 2026, we will mark our 125th birthday as an institution, and we will become a teenager as a University, so it is a chance to reflect on just how far we have come from those first pioneers.

“And you, our graduands - you are the next generation of pioneers, going out into industry and further study, ready to make your difference.”

October

Harper Adams alumnus George Elliot secured a landmark double victory – winning British Farming Awards Agricultural Student of the Year just two weeks after securing the same title in the Farmers Weekly Awards.

It is the first time a Harper Adams student has won both titles in the same year.

Speaking the morning after his win, he told the BBC: “My degree has opened up my world. It has enabled me to think about things differently: to see things in a different light and to take on other people’s points of view. I have been exposed to the cutting edge and the new technologies that are going to be available in the industry. “

Harper & Keele Veterinary School has received full accreditation from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council for its Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVetMS) degree.  

Founding Head of the Harper & Keele Veterinary School, Professor Matt Jones, said: “We are delighted to receive the accreditation decision which recognises our innovative approach to veterinary education and the huge commitment from our colleagues and partners that underpins it.  

“We are a Vet School built on collaboration, not only between Harper Adams and Keele but with educational partners, industry and the wide range of placement providers needed to provide such a good student experience.”

A new MONOPOLY board featuring landmarks across Telford & Wrekin – including Harper Adams – was launched at the University’s Telford hub.

Harper Adams Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan said: “As the Borough’s home-grown University - which works to drive its economy forward through our tailored, specialist courses and industry collaborations - we’re delighted to both feature on the Telford and Wrekin Monopoly board and to be hosting its official launch. 

“There is so much to be proud of in Telford and Wrekin - and it is great to see so many loved landmarks chosen by our community being celebrated in the game.”  

The power of collaboration between education providers and industry to boost opportunities was underlined to the Chair of Skills England during a visit to Shropshire.

The University welcomed Phil Smith CBE, Chair of Skills England, and Joanna Moonan, Deputy Director for Clean Energy and Life Sciences at Skills England, for a day visit focused on aligning education provision with evolving national and sectoral skills needs.

November

Historic links were marked and new relationships forged during a visit to a leading Chinese institution by SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Michael Lee represented Harper Adams at two significant events at China Agricultural University in Beijing, reinforcing a commitment to global collaboration in agricultural education and innovation between the two organisations.

At the WAFI World Agricultural University President Forum, Professor Lee was invited to act as moderator for a high-level roundtable discussion with global industry experts.

The conference was the precursor for a keynote event the following day, marking China Agricultural University’s historic 120th anniversary celebrations.

Professor Lee was among the dignitaries, academic leaders, and partners from around the world invited to honour the University’s remarkable legacy and contributions to agricultural science and education.

Later in the month, Professor Lee also represented the University at the COP 30 climate change summit in Belem, Brazil.

The University played an active role in proceedings, as both an official observer organisation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - and a leading Agri-Food Specialist University. 

A drive to champion sustainability in the food and drink offered at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ was recognised with a second national award.

The University won the Campus Health, Food and Drink category at the UK and Ireland Green Gown Awards 2025, thanks to the work of its catering team and wider University community towards reducing food waste and boosting sustainable dining.

Harper Adams made history – being named the first-ever Specialist Institution of the Year in the national Times Higher Education awards.

When choosing their Specialist Institution award winner, judges considered not only SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s long history in food and farming, but also its forward-thinking approach to innovation with the development of an urban hub, where the University works with a range of partners and local businesses to boost digital skills.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan collected the award on the night and said: “I may have received the Specialist Institution award on behalf of the University, but it is one the whole Harper Adams community has won together.

“It is an award for every student, staff member, alumni, governor, partner and donor who make this such a special and distinctive institution.”

The University announced it will invest more than £500,000 in high-tech equipment to boost learning and teaching in AI and Engineering over the next year.

The new technology, which will help Harper Adams to bring its digital skills training and immersive simulation technology to more students and business, has been made available thanks to funding from the Office for Students.

December

The Pig Unit team from the SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Future Farm continued an enviable run of success at the National Pig Awards.

At this year’s awards, the team took home the trophies for both Herd Productivity and Indoor Producer of the Year – while Sector Manager Matt Swaine was named Unit Manager of the Year. 

The latest wins cap more than five years of awards for the team at the event.

A final year Agriculture student from SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ won the prestigious Agriscot business competition.

BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management student Rachel Baillie, from Carstairs in South Lanarkshire, was named the Business Skills Award winner at a packed AgriScot event at the Royal Highland Centre.

She said: “I’ve picked up so many new skills and lots of knowledge on everything from global issues to finances on the farm.

“It felt like all my hard work had paid off - I felt really grateful to have had this experience.”

A revolutionary new program set to transform soil health around the world was launched globally on World Soil Day - after being honed at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½.

In its launch event, the  unveiled “soilsmology” which - by using the well-established methods of seismology in novel ways - promises to greatly improve our understanding and use of one of the world’s most crucial resources - soil.

It will enable researchers to “see” into the shallowest soil layers, revealing vital signs with unprecedented clarity.

SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s Professor of Soil Ecology Simon Jeffery is an Earth Rover Program Co-founder and an executive director as well as being its Soil Lead.

He said: “The Earth Rover Program's approach is so exciting, as it allows us to see into the soil to gain insights for farmers and growers - and help us to manage our soils more sustainably.”

The UK’s Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs visited Harper Adams – to hear how the University’s collaborative approach is driving food and farming forwards.

In a wide-ranging tour, Dame Angela Eagle MP was welcomed to both the University’s Telford and Edgmond sites by Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan.

He said: “When SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ was raised with her in the Commons last month, the Minister emphasised the importance of industry and higher education collaborating to strengthen skills – and collaboration was very much at the heart of today’s visit.”

The Minister has since noted the value of her visit.

The skills and capacity of community-led organisations serving Telford & Wrekin are set to be boosted in the New Year - thanks to a new fully-funded course at SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½.

The University has secured funding from Telford & Wrekin Council, via the Shropshire Community Foundation under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver its Foundations of Project Management short course. In total, 12 fully-funded places are being offered to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the Borough, working in areas such as youth support, health, homelessness, mental health, food poverty, and environmental action.

Darren Jaundrill, Principal Lecturer in the Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, will be delivering the course.

He said: “When teams have the right planning, delivery and life skills, they dramatically raise their chances of delivering meaningful impact for communities.

“That matters - especially in the VCSE sector, where delivery can truly change lives.”

Agri-tech’s transformative role in tackling some of the biggest challenges currently facing farming and wider society was placed at the heart of a new five-part docuseries.

Produced by the UK Agri-Tech Centre in partnership with SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ and its , the Farming Smarter YouTube docuseries follows two neighbouring tenant farmers in Somerset, Rob Addicott and Jeremy Padfield, as they use agri-tech and innovative methods to rebuild soils, protect water, enhance biodiversity and cut inputs and emissions.

Professor Michael Lee said: "True progress in sustainable agriculture comes from farmers, scientists, and innovators working side by side.

“What Jeremy and Rob are demonstrating through this documentary series is that collaboration is our most powerful tool, because sustainability isn’t achieved through technology alone. It requires shared learning, honest reflection and a willingness to rethink how we produce food.

“By bringing together practical experience with cutting-edge research, we can build farming systems that are resilient, productive and genuinely future-focused."