Shropshire university leading the way for graduate employment

Harper Adams University in Newport has been given a 96 per cent rate, making it the best and most consistent for long-term graduate employment in specialist agri-food higher education.

This figure also means the university is leading the way for graduate employment in the Midlands.

Dr David Llewellyn, Vice-Chancellor, said: "It is important to demonstrate a consistent performance in graduate employment and we are now amongst the best institutions in the higher education sector.

"Our close ties with industry, and the high quality of our education, directly support these tremendous results, but we should not forget the hard work of our students in seeking and securing employment as they graduate from university, and we wish them well in their chosen careers."

The employment rate is calculated following the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey of former students, who graduated in the 2013/14 academic year after completing degrees.

Harper Adams achieved the highest response rate in the UK, with 97.8 per cent of 2014 graduates completing the survey.

Therefore the university was able to achieve the country's most accurate mapping of where former students were six months after graduating.

Maria Simpson, careers service manager, added: "The surveying of students not only secured a high employment rate but also revealed that the majority had secured positions classed as 'professional or managerial'.

"Students have worked really hard aspiring and taking every opportunity to gain the knowledge, skills and attributes to be employable and compete effectively for graduate level positions, locally, nationally and internationally.

"As well as dealing with vacancies all year round, we successfully hold our annual Careers and Placement Fairs in November each year attracting in excess of 100 employers keen to meet and engage with students who study our successful range of courses."