Harper Adams University’s New School Focuses on Enhancing Business Support and Engagement.

Harper Adams University’s New Shropshire Business School Aims to Strengthen Industry Collaboration

This is great news for those students who want to excel in their career in the food industry and entrepreneurship. Harper Adams University has established two new entities to enhance its support for business and increase industry engagement. The Harper Adams Business School will focus on business and land management education, overseeing current programs and introducing new ones to address the evolving needs of individuals and industry. The school emphasized innovative management strategies, knowledge exchange, and land-based decision-making.

Harper Food Innovation will focus on advancing research, facilitating knowledge exchange, and fostering university-business engagement, strongly emphasizing sustainable food product innovation. Additionally, it will provide education and upskilling opportunities for professionals in the food industry. Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor of the University, highlighted that the university has strong industry connections and can produce graduates who meet the employment needs. The establishment of these two new entities will enhance both the educational offerings for students and the scope of applied research.

Rebecca Payne, who will lead the Harper Adams Business School, previously headed the University’s Food Land and Agribusiness Management Department, which will now be succeeded by the new entities. Payne remarked that the university’s reputation has been built on its relevance to specialized industry sectors and their businesses. She emphasized the university’s distinctive approach to engaging with and impacting business and expressed the intention to further leverage this strength.

Business schools, with their unique position, are well-placed to drive innovation and collaboration within their universities. By incorporating Land Management into the Harper Adams Business School, the institution is highlighting its strengths and distinctive character while addressing the evolving needs of industry partners. It was noted that many employers have increasingly sought expertise in organizational and employee development, and the university is dedicated to meeting this growing demand effectively. A new Head of Harper Food Innovation has yet to be appointed, but Professor Sloan stated that its creation will enable the university to "pursue a modern, progressive agenda for food." As part of the restructuring, the university will dissolve its current Food, Land, and Agribusiness academic department. Staff members from the department have been reassigned to either the Harper Adams Business School or Harper Food Innovation.

The university assured that, although courses will now be affiliated with either the Harper Adams Business School or Harper Food Innovation, students will experience no changes in the delivery of teaching and learning. For some programs, course content will still span both departments. Students can anticipate benefits from these changes as new professional connections and engagement opportunities are established.

Editor’s Note: 

The opening of the new Harper Adams Business School represents a major advancement for Harper Adams University. This program demonstrates the university's dedication to using its specific knowledge to improve industry interaction and foster entrepreneurial innovation. The goal of the new school is to offer specialized instruction and research opportunities that meet the changing demands of industry partners so that businesses and students can both gain from a more innovative and integrated approach. This calculated action is a reflection of the university's commitment to closing the gap between research and business, providing a strong foundation for growth and partnership. 

Skoobuzz encourages students to join these new programs to enhance their entrepreneurial skills.