Harper Adams University - Prospectus 2024

“I am interested not only in howminority groupmembers can be encouraged to consider agriculture and then enter it, but also how they can be supported to rise to the top of their organisations and howmuch success organisations are havingwith their diversity and inclusivity initiatives. I want to helpmembers of the food supply chain understand the benefits of having a diverseworkforce, which reflects that of the general population.” "I firmly believe you don’t need to have a farmat home to study agriculture at Harper Adams – or to take advantage of its links with industry... no other place opens doors [like] Harper Adams does.” Tim, whose time at Harper Adams has seen him winning scholarships and awards – as well as working with a global company - was unsure at first about studying agriculture due to his non-traditional background. However, since beginning his studies with a Foundation degree, before transferring over to his current undergraduate course, Tim has secured a British Poultry Council Scholarship and a year’s placement at Aviagen, as well as an Oxford Farming Conference Scholarship. “[Coming to Harper] has been the best decision I ever made – the opportunities I’ve had as a result have been unbelievable," says Tim. The success kept on coming, as in late 2022 Tim went on to win Agri Student/ Apprentice of the Year at the Farming Life Awards. “Winning the award is an honour and I am proud to bring it back to Harper Adams." Read more about Tim here. We are proud partners of AgRespect and stand with them in support of LGBTQ+ diversity, inclusion and enablement. Harper Adams University, Farms for City Children and The Worshipful Company of Butchers are tackling diversity in agriculture head-on, by educating young people about agriculture and food in a new research project. The charity brings children from cities to farms in Devon, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire and aims to boost each child’s confidence and self-worth during their time on the farm – as well as encouraging them to consider careers in related industries. HAU researcher, Liz Tree, has just completed an Agriculture degree herself at Harper Adams – and originally hails from Croydon, one of Greater London’s largest commercial districts. Liz said: “Being from an urban and non-farming background, this is a topic close to my heart. I have been extremely lucky to have had experiences on farms originally stemming from family holidays to the countryside. “However, I am aware that not everyone has the opportunity to experience rural life in this way. The work of Farms for City Children is a great way to get urban children to take an interest in where their food comes from, engage with nature and rural life as well as to reflect upon their own lives and put them into a new context." Having already worked to research diversity and inclusivity in the whole food supply chain, Liz now wants to use her MRes (Master of Research) to show young people the possibilities of careers in agriculture and food. She added: “Hopefully it can show that agriculture is a career available to those from the city as well as the country. “I am convinced that Farms for City Children has a significant role to play to support the personal development of children from the city whilst also helping the farming industry itself." Read more. HARPER.AC.UK | 25 Student Story: Liz Tree Student Story: TimDavidson