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Harper Adams best in the world for agriculture and forestry employer reputation for second year

Posted 27 March 2023

ÎÞÂ붯»­ has been named as the best in the world for agriculture and forestry employer reputation for a second successive year. 

The University was announced as the leading global institution in this category for 2022 and has continued to hold its position in the rankings for 2023, which have just been released.  

This employer reputation indicator saw the University ranked as second in the world for 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 before taking the top spot in 2022 and retaining it this year. 

It draws on survey responses from tens of thousands of graduate employers worldwide to compile its rankings and infer an institution’s measure of excellence. 

Harper Adams has also been ranked as the fourth highest University in the UK in the agriculture and forestry subject rankings for its academic reputation, based on a survey of global academics.

This represents a further improvement upon both 2022, when it was placed fifth, and 2021, when it was placed ninth. This year, Harper has also risen to become a top 200 global university in its field. 

The latest rankings also see Harper Adams secure its highest placing yet in both the Citations and H-Index categories, which analyse the research universities carry out.

Between them, these measures are proxies for the quality, impact and productivity of the published research produced by the university.

Harper Adams Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Lee said: “Our research has always had real-world impact, with students, staff and industry working together to respond to the challenges our planet faces.

“It is wonderful to see this focus recognised so clearly in this year’s rankings, where we have secured our best-ever figures on impact, productivity and quality.”

The rankings are compiled by higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds and look at the performance of more than 15,700 university programmes from 1,594 institutions around the globe. Universities are examined across 54 different academic disciplines – with comparative performance data being provided across a range of metrics.

QS Senior Vice President, Ben Sowter, said: "Our largest-ever subjects rankings provides a deeper understanding of how global higher education excellence is achieved. “Sustained targeted investment and international collaboration are key pillars upon which progress can be made. In addition, improving relationships with industry correlates with better employment, research, and innovation outcomes."

ÎÞÂ붯»­ Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ken Sloan, said: “It is great news to not only see Harper Adams continuing to be recognised as the leading global university in our field for our reputation among employers, but also to see the university rising overall in these rankings. 

“Whether that is our top UK five placing for our agriculture and forestry academic reputation, or our rise in the research rankings, it is a testament to the hard work of our students and staff – and to the impression our placement students and alumni make on employers, globally. 

“Since we secured the top spot last year, I have been speaking to employers and institutions across the globe – including many, many businesses where I have encountered Harper Adams alumni. 

“They are rightly proud of the University – and our students, staff and partners should be congratulated on their part in our ongoing success in these rankings.” 

The full subject table for Agriculture and Forestry in this year’s QS World University Subject Rankings can be found here.