2022 has been quite a year for Hartpury staff and students as well as our friends and partners! Here are some of our favourite moments from the last twelve months so grab a hot chocolate, settle in and join us for a trip down memory lane. Who knows, you could be featuring in our review of 2023 (there's still time to apply to study with us at Hartpury College or Hartpury University next September).
JANUARY
Hartpury started 2022 in a celebratory mood, following the news that alum Zoe Aldcroft had been named World Rugby’s Women’s Player of the Year in December.
More sporting success wasn’t far away as Hannah Jones, a former Hartpury University student (BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy), became one of the first 12 female players to be awarded a professional contract by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). In that same week, Mustapha Bundu, a former Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport (Football) student featured in Sierra Leone’s starting 11 as they played Algeria in their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in over 25 years!
Read more about Hannah's contract Read more about Mustapha's AFCON appearance
The brand-new Equine and Animal Assisted Activity (EAAA) Area reached completion in January, consisting of a covered 60m x 30m arena and 22m-diameter round pen.
Research carried out at a zoo in New Zealand, supported by a Hartpury University academic, explored the impact of visitors on zoo-housed little penguins and the effectiveness of close-proximity viewing areas.
FEBRUARY
Hartpury joined 15 other institutions to form the Agricultural Universities Council (AUC) and announced their sponsorship of the Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group, an exciting initiative announced by Gloucestershire County Council and Creative Sustainability.
Read more about the Agricultural Universities Council
Read more about the Gloucestershire Youth Climate Group
As the 2022 Six Nations got underway, Hartpury found itself well represented. A total of 11 former Hartpury students and Men’s Rugby Academy alumni were named in team selections by England, Wales, Scotland, and Italy during the first weekend alone.
Hartpury College Level Two Diploma in Animal Care students completed and passed their certificates in Emergency Canine First Aid.
New Tech Box Park units arrived at Hartpury at the end of February, forming the second phase of a pioneering Digital Innovation Farm. The 10 x 40ft High-Cube Tech Box Park units are now home to several innovative businesses.
MARCH
The most prestigious prize in jumps racing made its way to Hartpury in March as part of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Community Tour. At the same time, research carried out by Hartpury academics made a number of recommendations to improve occupational health and wellbeing among horseracing staff.
Read more about the Gold Cup Tour.
Read more about the occupational health of horseracing staff.
In March, Hartpury University’s Women’s Futsal team won the BUCS Women’s Western Tier 1 League, following a hugely successful season that saw them streak ahead of their competition before the league has even finished. The Hartpury College’s Junior Women’s Football team also won the ECFA Women’s Premier League ahead of the quarter finals.
Hartpury College’s Level 3 Foundation Diploma students headed to the Cotswold Wildlife Park to learn about the animals’ feeding routine and gain exclusive access with some of the park’s keepers. Meanwhile, Hartpury teamed up with Canada’s Fleming College to provide a BSc (Hons) Zoology pathway. A busy month was wrapped up with the news that Hartpury had received Bronze Accreditation at the Hedgehog Friendly Campus Awards 2021/22.
Read more about the partnership with Fleming College.
Read more about Hartpury’s Bronze Accreditation.
APRIL
Professor Monèm Jemni, Sport and Exercise Research Centre Lead at Hartpury University, received praise from organisers and delegates after his keynote speech at the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) and DaR’s 6th Global Annual Ramadan Conference in Birmingham. The keynote, titled ‘Exercise during Ramadan: the when, who & what’, explore the hugely important topic of sport and exercise during periods of fasting.
Hartpury secured the BUCS Women’s National League Championship rugby title for the first time, beating the University of Edinburgh 36-22 at Sixways Stadium.
Jessica Stevens, a Hartpury College pentathlete was awarded a ‘Backing the Best’ award by Sport England. Hartpury’s Golf Academy celebrated a string of successes after Eliot Baker’s win in the Exeter Invitational was backed up by a university team victory in the BUCS Western Tier 1 League for the second year running. On 26 April, Hartpury University FC became Herefordshire FA County Cup Champions.
Read more about Jessica Stevens and her ‘Backing the Best’ award
Read more about Hartpury’s April golf success.
Read more about Hartpury University FC’s monumental success.
Two Hartpury College alum celebrated a special 10-year anniversary of their children’s holiday club business.
MAY
A Hartpury University student was awarded the prize for ‘best speaker’ after presenting the findings of her dissertation research at the 16th UFAW (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare) Student Animal Welfare Conference.
In May, we received the news that research carried out by Hartpury University, submitted as part of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 process, had been recognised as ‘world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’, placing Hartpury amongst a prestigious group of well-established institutions.
Hartpury College animal students taking the Animal Nursing unit as part of their course, completed the ‘Dog First Aid, Emergency Canine Care Certificates’. Ben Brilot, Associate Head of Department, Animal and Agriculture, at Hartpury University, was appointed as a trustee for the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT).
In late May, Hartpury University enjoyed an outstanding night at the national WhatUni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs), climbing 14 places since 2020 to win the Lecturers and Teaching Quality category, fending off competition from 94 other institutions. Hartpury also came 3rd in the UK for Facilities, 3rd in the UK for Career Prospects, 4th in the UK for Student Support and finished in the top ten for UK University of the Year.
Worcester Futsal Club (WFC) was rebranded as Hartpury Futsal Club (HFC).
JUNE
Hartpury University’s strength and conditioning programmes were officially certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Former students Harry Randall, Ellis Genge, Jonny Hill and Jonny May were named in the England squad ahead of their rugby Tour of Australia.
Read more about Hartpury’s strength and conditioning certification.
Read more about the England rugby squad selections.
Hartpury became one of only five universities to announce an online RCVS-accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing that offered students a chance to specialise in one of four areas of clinical interest. Notably, Hartpury is the only university to offer an equine stream.
The first in-person Prize Day since the pandemic was welcomed by everyone at Hartpury College on 23 June, providing an opportunity to celebrate the many successes and achievements of students who recently completed their college course.
JULY
Hartpury was named as the number one English Mainstream University in the ‘Teaching on my Course’ category, according to results from the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022 – the largest survey of its kind in the world. Among fellow English institutions, Hartpury also finished in 2nd place for ‘Overall Satisfaction’ and ‘Academic Support’, and in 3rd place for ‘Assessment and Feedback’.
Hartpury College student Jack Copland signed an extended scholar contract at Swindon Town FC after completing his Level 3 Extended Diploma Sport with triple Distinction!
In July, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of a new £2 million Tech Box Park at Hartpury.
22 nations arrived from right across Europe to contest the FEI Dressage and Eventing European Championships for Young Riders and Juniors at Hartpury Equine. The event followed on from a hugely successful NAF Five Star Hartpury Festival of Dressage and ahead of the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials.
Graduate Outcomes 2022 Survey results showed 97% of 2020 Hartpury University graduates were in employment, further study, or other purposeful activity, improving on the institution’s impressive results from the previous year.
AUGUST
The Commonwealth Games got underway in Birmingham, with Hartpury alumni representing their respective nations in rugby sevens. Hartpury also hosted the Team Cook Islands’ lawn bowls team.
180 delegates from 10 different countries headed to Hartpury for the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) Conference 2022. The theme this year was Succeed with Science: Performance, Practice and Positive Partnerships.
The NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials rounded off a hugely successful summer of equestrian sport. The CCI4*S was won by Piggy March and the ever popular Vanir Kamira. The combination would go on to win one of the biggest prizes in the sport just weeks later – the Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials.
Hartpury College students achieved outstanding A-level and BTEC results for another consecutive year, surpassing the national pass rate. The college’s A-level pass rate (99.5%) is above the national average (98.4%) with A-C attainment (79%) up from 2019 (74.2%) when exams were last held. BTECs saw an impressive 72.9% achieve a high-grade profile.
SEPTEMBER
Following the retirement of Russell Marchant over the summer, Professor Andy Collop was in post as the new Vice-Chancellor, Principal and CEO of Hartpury University and Hartpury College ready for the start of a new academic year. The institution welcomed a record-high 4,500 students (new and returning), many of whom attended the annual WellFest event to learn more about the wide range of support available.
Read more about Professor Andy Collop’s appointment.
Read more about WellFest 2022.
Hartpury University ranked 1st in the South West and 6th in the UK for Teaching Quality, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide for 2023.
Graze officially opened its doors, providing a highly anticipated space for dining, learning and conferences.
Hartpury was named as the no.1 specialist STEM university for ‘local growth and regeneration’, in the second publication of Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) results released by Research England.
Hartpury College animal students celebrated the start of spooky season with a bat walk around campus, identifying different species using special bat detectors.
OCTOBER
Hartpury’s Dr Kathryn Nankervis and Alan Powderhill joined Irish Olympian Jonty Evans to run the London Marathon!
11 of the 32-player England squad and 11 of the 32-player Wales squad had connections with Hartpury University and Hartpury College at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand!
Just over £2.6million of funding was awarded to the Gloucestershire Federation of Colleges (consisting of Hartpury College, South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Gloucestershire College and Cirencester College) as part of the Department of Education’s (DfE) Strategic Development Fund (SDF). Hartpury will use the funding to help bridge the digital skills gap in agriculture.
Work got underway on Hartpury’s brand-new University Learning Hub in October. A breaking ground ceremony was attended by the local MP and leaders of the Forest of Dean District Council.
Helen Tedds, a Lecturer in Animal Welfare at Hartpury University was widely featured in the media for her research into reptile pet owner education. She even headed to the House of Lords to contribute to an industry discussion.
Hartpury sponsored the ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ category for the second year running at the SoGlos Business Awards.
Hartpury College animal students from the Level 2 Technical Diploma had a great time creating spooky enrichment for residents of the animal collection.
NOVEMBER
Renouf Wealth Management became the first sponsor to sign up to the latest Kick Start campaign, sponsoring the women’s rugby pathway for the 2022/23 season. Three generations of Hartpury football team captains also played in the First Round proper of their external non-league teams during the opening weekend of the Emirates FA Cup.
Read more about Renouf Wealth Management’s sponsorship.
Read more about Hartpury’s representation in the Emirate FA Cup.
Hartpury University awarded three honorary degrees and celebrated the achievements of 491 students at its glittering graduation ceremony at Gloucester Cathedral.
HRH The Princess Royal made a special visit to Hartpury Equine to celebrate Maisemore RDA’s 50th anniversary and 15 years at Hartpury.
Wonga Matubatuba was accepted to the #BreakingBarriers Oxford Farming Conference Scholarship scheme for 2023, run in partnership with McDonalds.
Local school children and volunteers at Gloucester’s St James City Farm welcomed Professor Andy Collop for a special equestrian demonstration with his horse Duffy.
DECEMBER
Our first annual Christmas lecture took place, bringing the Clem Burke Drumming Project to life.
Rosie Scott-Ward, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Hartpury University and Catherine Phillips, Head of Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University were named among 23 Chairs and Deputy Chairs to lead the review of Subject Benchmark Statements. They’ll review ‘Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Food and Consumer Science’ and ‘Veterinary Nursing’ respectively.
Hartpury University was among the first universities to be awarded a University Mental Health Charter Award.
Elizabeth Bradley-Covey RVN CertECC, a Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing at Hartpury University gave tips and advice for dog owners, explaining how to avoid canine calamities during the holiday season.
Hartpury announced it will sponsor the ‘Inspiring Learning’ category at the third annual No Child Left Behind awards.
