Taking the right course to develop your talent
Harper Adams University at Edgmond has grown from its traditional roots as an agricultural college to become the leading specialist university in the UK, tackling the future development of our planet's food production, processing, animal sciences, engineering, land management and sustainable business.
Over 10 years we have undertaken ambitious investment to provide the best possible facilities for learning, teaching and research activities, with continued investments in agri tech, precision farming, robotics and automation. We are trialling learning using mixed reality, working closely with industry and expanding the university to business offer through employer-led initiatives.
Our most recent development sees the university becoming approved by the Skills Funding Agency as a registered apprenticeship provider, and winning a share of HEFCE degree apprenticeship development funding to create new degree and postgraduate apprenticeships for our more specialist sectors, embracing the career journey from field to fork.
Course designers will work with industry to create appropriate part-time degree and postgraduate level courses (Level 6 & 7) to meet the skills gaps that are challenged by an ageing demographic and a heavy reliance on a workforce from EU member countries.
From next year, we will have apprentices truly “in the field” studying the chartered surveyor degree apprenticeship through our rural practice route. We now need industry to help us develop the following courses:
• Food industry technical professional degree apprenticeship (BSC Food Science and Technology)
• Food and drink advanced engineer degree apprenticeship (BEng Food and Drink Engineering)
• Postgraduate engineer apprenticeship (Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering – 18 months)
If talent is hard to find, postgraduate apprenticeships provide a seamless progression opportunity now for employers to grow or recruit graduates to be further developed (and funded) through an 18-month programme while being employed in an engineering role.
These could be engineering business managers within two years. The future is in your hands, and might already be in your business.
Clare Keegan, Business Development Manager, Harper Adams University
