During the year that Hartpury celebrated its 75th anniversary, staff and students ensured it was a twelve months to remember with success stories galore. Grab a hot chocolate, toast some marshmallows and settle in for a trip down memory lane.
Here are some of the highlights from 2023.
January
Students from Hartpury College’s Level 3 Uniformed Protective Services put their cooking skills to the test during an engaging Royal Marines Commando cooking experience.
College and university agriculture students took part in a special focus group in partnership with Farmers Guardian, discussing pressing issues and challenges in farming.
Linda Greening, Head of Inclusivity at Hartpury University, was named as part of The British Horse Society’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory Group.
February
Hartpury University and Hartpury College celebrated diversity with a week of events designed for staff and students alike.
Eight students and alumni were in action during the opening weekend of the 2023 Six Nations and Six Nations U-20 Championship.
Hartpury University’s Innovation, Careers and Enterprise (ICE) Centre and Hartpury College were accredited to the matrix Standard, demonstrating the high quality of information, advice, and guidance (IAG) given to its 4,500-strong student population.
A university student and former finalist of a Hartpury business competition helped young state-educated rugby players realise their potential, through a series of free resources including half term camps.
March
Children and teachers from five Gloucestershire schools headed to Hartpury University and Hartpury College to experience the benefits of learning around horses, as HorseBack UK returned for a second week-long event.
Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt, Head Coach of the Hartpury University women’s rugby team was named in the 42-strong England squad ahead of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations 2023.
Hartpury University headed to the British Small Animal Veterinary Nursing Association (BSAVA) Congress in Manchester to showcase its well-respected portfolio of student veterinary nurse training, RCVS-accredited postgraduate certificate, and student veterinary nurse practice placement opportunities.
The #MindYourHead campaign, organised by The Farm Safety Foundation, returned for its sixth year, with a rallying call for farmers and industry organisations to work together to combat anxiety, stress, and poor mental health in agriculture. Hartpury staff and students weighed in on the importance of mental health and wellbeing in farming.
April
Professor Matt Bell, Hartpury University’s Director of Agriculture, created a ‘breeding index’ to select dairy cows based on traits that are key to enhancing sustainability such as milk production, health, fertility and lifespan. The Hartpury Herd Index gained widespread media coverage and industry attention.
The Hartpury Sports Business Hub received funding from Gloucester City Council to increase the impact made by its sports degree student volunteers working in sports clubs, leisure centres, playing fields, and community centres in Gloucester.
A trio of league wins were celebrated by Hartpury Women’s Football and Futsal Academies.
May
The 12th annual Alltech-Hartpury Equine Student Conference took place at Hartpury University on 10 May, welcoming back in-person attendees for an inspirational event dedicated to the writing, submission and presentation of research.
The Digital Studio was officially launched, setting a new standard for agri-tech innovation in Gloucestershire. Designed to inspire the next generation of farmers, the innovative new teaching facility has since given students access to the latest in agri-technology and precision smart farming simulation.
Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May) came early at Hartpury College, as the institution welcomed sporting role models for a special men’s mental health event delivered by The Mintridge Foundation and funded by the #28NotOut Max Hunter Fund.
The Hartpury Agri-Tech Centre joined LEAF’s (Linking Environment and Farming) vibrant network of Innovation Centres and demonstration farms alongside some of the UK’s leading research establishments and most progressive farmers.
June
Hartpury College celebrated the many successes and achievements of its students with a glorious Prize Day ceremony in the Hartpury Equine Arena.
Hartpury University joined a group of agricultural universities to produce a research strategy that set out new steps the institutions are taking to join up their research and strengthen the difference they make on the ground.
British Racing’s Horse Welfare Board launched its first ever thoroughbred census in Great Britain, in collaboration with research experts at Hartpury University.
104 students studying Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport (Physical Education and Coaching) volunteered to help out at the 15th Annual Big Health Day at Oxstalls Sports Park in Gloucester last Friday 16 June 2023.
July
The first of the major annual equestrian events got underway, with the NAF Five Star Hartpury Festival of Dressage attracting leading riders from across the country. There were student successes galore, and students and alumni enjoyed their most successful festival ever.
Former Hartpury College student Laiith Fairnie signed a professional football contract with Birmingham City FC, just weeks after completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport (Football) and picking up Sports Academy Student of the Year at College Prize Day. Laiith is now one of more than 40 Hartpury alumni to sign a professional football contract.
Hartpury College welcomed 30 Sport, Outdoor Activities and Uniformed Protective Services industry professionals to its latest Industry Curriculum Co-Creation Event to discuss the curriculum design and content of its programmes, and to ensure industry representatives are directly informing their delivery.
It was revealed that 97% Hartpury University graduates are in employment, further study or other purposeful activity, placing the Gloucestershire institution first in the South West and in the top 10% of UK universities for graduate employability.
Hartpury University staff, students, and invited guests celebrated the end of a busy year of research at the institution’s annual Hartpury Research Conference: Making a difference.
August
Piggy March became the most successful rider at the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials, winning the event once more.
Hartpury College students celebrated another impressive year of A-level and BTEC Level 3 results, achieving an overall A-level pass rate of 98.4% and an overall BTEC pass rate of 99.4%.
Hartpury University was named as the number one university in England in the ‘Academic Support’ category, according to results from the National Student Survey (NSS) 2023.
It was announced that Hartpury College will receive almost £1 million in government funding to develop key facilities and a further £1.4m to purchase specialist equipment ahead of launching three exciting new agriculture T Levels in 2024.
September
Hartpury University was awarded Gold in all three areas of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) as it celebrated its 5th anniversary.
Over 2,500 students headed to WellFest 2023 as the event celebrated its 10th anniversary of highlighting the range of health, safety, and wellbeing support services on offer for young people.
Hartpury University ranked 6th in the UK and 1st in the South West for Teaching Quality, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024. Hartpury also ranked 14th in the UK for Student Experience.
Hartpury University ranked 2nd in the UK for Student Support and 4th in the UK for Teaching Excellence, according to the first-ever interactive Daily Mail University Guide. Hartpury also ranked 1st in the South West for Teaching Excellence and Student Support.
October
Hartpury College took part in Colleges Week. The college celebrated how it is supporting industry and helping students to be well prepared for their future careers. Check out 13 reasons to love Hartpury College.
A Hartpury University postgraduate student found that eccentric resistance training (ERT) may be used to enhance physical qualities whilst reducing injury risk factors in young female ballet dancers.
Members of the business development team joined the local business community for the annual SoGlos Business Awards, where Hartpury sponsored the Most Innovative Business of the Year category.
November
The month of November started with a glittering graduation ceremony at Gloucester Cathedral. The first and only UK cohort of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) graduated from the Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Advanced Equine Veterinary Nursing.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire attended Hartpury to explore the equine and animal facilities, and how they contributed to the teaching experience following the triple Gold TEF rating.
Hartpury University announced a new MSc Animal Assisted Counselling degree (as well as a Postgraduate Diploma pathway), set to commence in September 2024. This exciting new programme has been designed exclusively for those already qualified as mental health practitioners, including psychologists and counsellors.
Hartpury University will host the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ) Conference at its Gloucestershire campus from 27-30 June 2024. The theme is ‘Watch and Learn: The value of observing and being with animals’ with a vision to explore and bring greater awareness of the value of observation to both human and animal wellbeing.
A new Master of Business Administration (MBA) Top-Up degree was announced, complementing the new BSc (Hons) Business Management degree, also launching in 2024.
December
The summary statements from the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) panel were released, offering more detail into how the institution secured its prestigious triple Gold rating.
Hartpury’s annual lecture gave a glimpse into the future of farming. More than 120 guests attended Hartpury University to hear Professor Matt Bell explain how big data and agri-technology will change the way we feed the world.
Hartpury University and Hartpury College also announced their involvement with the Severn Treescapes project, an initiative led by the wildlife trusts of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. As part of the project, students and staff will plant a total of 5000 hedge plants and five hectares of trees in key areas of Hartpury farmland over the next year.
It was announced that researchers at Hartpury University will help to create horse welfare guidance for the World Breeding Foundation for Sport Horses (WBFSH).
