HAS University and Harper Adams create partnership
HAS University has appointed Wim de Koning as Professor of Business and Enterprise Development, while Harper Adams has simultaneously appointed Wim as a Visiting Professor to the Land, Farm and Agri-Business Management Department.
The appointment signals a step-change in the relationship between HAS, a key European partner, and Harper Adams, which has been in existence for many years, but has strengthened significantly over the last 18 months.
Martine Overdijk, Head of HAS Agri-Business Department, Harper Adams Vice-Chancellor Dr David Llewellyn, HAS University President Dick Pouwels. Prof Wim de Koning and Director of Learning and Teaching Andy Jones
Rebecca Payne, Head of the Land, Farm and Agribusiness Management Department, explains: “What began as a student exchange visit has evolved into a strategic partnership with student opportunities and shared research at its heart.”
“We already have the first intern from HAS, Gwen Kouters, working within the LFABM department as a part of her compulsory overseas placement. She is the first of many.”
“We have identified joint research projects to run across the two institutions that will, amongst other things, study the impact of Brexit and sustainable entrepreneurship.”
“We will seek innovations in assessment for our agribusiness students based upon the successes of HAS in this area and final year students will be encouraged to develop joint research projects that will be identified as having strategic value for both institutions increasing our ability to report international insights for the agribusiness sector.”
Staff and students from HAS visited Harper Adams
Andy Jones, Director of Learning and Teaching, explained that following a series of reciprocal visits by staff and students in 2016, he presented at the HAS Expo’ event in January 2017, and a group of students from the HAS department of agri-business will visit Harper Adams again in May for a study tour.
“Harper Adams is pleased to have become a destination for Masters study for HAS graduates with nine enrollments here in September 2016 and a further cohort expected in September 2017.
“Dr Wim de Koning, the link academic at HAS, has now been appointed there as a Professor in Business and Enterprise and, as part of this international professorship, Harper Adams has also appointed him as a Visiting Professor in Business and Enterprise.”
“He will be working closely with Rebecca Payne, Simon Thelwell and other staff in the Land, Farm and Agri-Business Department to develop collaborative research and business projects and to provide guest lectures and research supervision. It is envisaged that he will spend several days per month at the Harper Adams campus.”
“Wim, along with the HAS President, several other members of staff and prospective 2017 MSc students spent two days at Harper Adams on March 9 and 10, during which time Wim also gave his first guest lecture, on Practices of Sustainability along the Supply Chain.”
Carolien Kloosterman receives her prize
During the HAS visit, Carolien Kloosterman, currently studying for her MSc in International Agri-Business and Food Chain Management at Harper Adams, was presented with her prize and certificate after winning the Kremers Award for her BSc thesis. The award was presented by Dick Pouwels, President of HAS University, overseen by Rebecca Payne, Carolien's MSc supervisor.
Source: Harper Adams University