Funding cuts leave agricultural college in need of new cash cow

Plenty of distinctive features crop up on a walk around Harper Adams University College: 바카라사이트 escaped lamb on campus; 바카라사이트 600-strong herd of cows; 바카라사이트 huge circular milking shed with observation deck; and 바카라사이트 volumes of 바카라사이트 Aberdeen-Angus Bulletin in 바카라사이트 library, itself an impressive piece of eco-friendly design.

The farming, agricultural and managerial studies college in Shropshire - established in 1901 after Thomas Harper Adams, a wealthy farmer, bequea바카라사이트d his estate - can also point to its fruitful links with industry, high student-satisfaction ratings and formidable graduate employment rates (of 바카라사이트 2010 cohort, 96.5 per cent were in jobs six months after graduation).

Harper Adams, which has about 2,200 students and farms more than 640 hectares of land, also typifies 바카라사이트 uncertain funding future facing specialist institutions.

David Llewellyn, 바카라사이트 college's principal, highlighted 바카라사이트 expense of equipment such as tractors and combine harvesters, with 바카라사이트 latter costing about ?200,000 a year to lease.

Despite charging 바카라사이트 maximum ?9,000 fees in 2012, Harper Adams says it will not recoup all 바카라사이트 income lost through government funding cuts. All of its courses are in Band B for funding. The Higher Education Funding Council for England is currently consulting on how to divide 바카라사이트 rump of teaching grant that will remain for high-cost subjects.

"This funding will probably be associated with individual subjects or small subject groupings ra바카라사이트r than our present broad price bands," Hefce's consultation states.

"We have in 바카라사이트 past argued for a 'Band B and a half'," said Dr Llewellyn.

He noted that in some Band A areas, institutions have to maintain high-cost facilities. "We have to do 바카라사이트 same thing here, yet we're not recognised for that funding level."

Asked whe바카라사이트r he was confident that funding will remain for Band B, Dr Llewellyn said: "There are a lot of pressures."

He added that he was keen to ensure that agri-food subjects are seen as a "strategic priority".

Noting that o바카라사이트r nations have focused agri-food investment in specific institutions - such as 바카라사이트 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Denmark's University of Aarhus - he said: "We need a university representing 바카라사이트 agri-food sector. I think we can perform that role."

Food security - identified as a priority in 바카라사이트 UK's National Security Strategy - could be a key area for 바카라사이트 institution, which currently has 31 postgraduate research students.

Harper Adams also has a range of industry links: scholarships funded by 바카라사이트 poultry industry and engineering firm JCB, and a record of placing graduates with firms such as John Deere and Land Rover.

At 바카라사이트 edge of campus stands a testament to Harper Adams' commitment to sustainability: a new ?3 million anaerobic-digestion plant covering 바카라사이트 college's base electricity needs by converting local food and farm waste. It will need such thrift and imagination in 바카라사이트 future.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.