Shropshire university is among the elite
Shropshire's Harper Adams is in the running to be crowned the UK's university of the year but will have to beat some of the country's top educational institutions.
The university near Newport has been shortlisted in the 10th annual Times Higher Education Awards, in recognition of its work during the 2012/13 academic year, during which Harper Adams secured the "university" title, recruited its highest ever undergraduate intake, took research student numbers to a record high, and saw a 100 per cent growth in research income.
Developments during the year included the £2.93 million agricultural engineering innovation centre, the £2.8 million Weston teaching building, the introduction of a pig industry scholarships programme and the establishment of collaborations with universities across China and in Japan, New Zealand and the USA.
Harper Adams is also a finalist in the outstanding contribution to innovation and technology category of the awards, in recognition of its work to drive innovation in advanced agricultural engineering.
In the university of the year category, it will be taking on Birkbeck at the University of London, Edge Hill University, University of Glasgow, the University of London's Institute of Education and Swansea University. For the innovation and technology award it will face the universities of East Anglia, Essex, Exeter, Glasgow and Salford.
Despite seemingly punching above its weight, Harper Adams vice chancellor Dr David Llewellyn said the university deserved to be in the mix.
Dr Llewellyn said: "I am thrilled that the hard work of our engineers has been rewarded with a shortlisting in the innovation and technology award category. Their contribution to the engineering and agri-technology sectors is growing apace, and they are playing a vital national role in education and research in this field.
"To learn that we have also been shortlisted in the top category of university of the year is, however, the icing on the cake and recognition that our staff and students have created a university community that is considered, by our peers, to be amongst the best in the UK.
"Harper Adams has been shortlisted after a highly successful year in 2012/13."
He said the shortlisting would not immediately change its future plans but would give the university a boost. He said: "While it will not change any of our current plans, this shortlisting is recognition of the high quality of our provision and the growing reputation of Harper Adams in the UK universities sector.
"We are proud to be Shropshire's only university and it is clear from the recognition granted to us at national level that we have a strong role to play in representing the county in the UK university sector."
Hundreds of nominations for outstanding institutions, departments and individuals were submitted across 18 categories covering the full range of university activity - showcasing the pioneering spirit, adaptability and sheer quality of the UK higher education sector.
John Gill, Times Higher Education editor, said: "This celebration marks the 10th anniversary of the Times Higher Education Awards, 10 years in which higher education has undergone huge changes but has always risen to the challenges it has faced. Our universities and colleges are among the nation's most respected institutions, both at home and internationally, and it's THE's great privilege to have played a part in celebrating their achievements over the past decade."
Award winners will be announced on Thursday, November 27, at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend, including politicians, senior sector figures, and academic and university staff from all corners of the UK.
