SIR, – I was absolutely delighted to hear that Harper Adams University had been awarded the honour of ‘University of the Year’ for the second year running in the WhatUni Student Choice Awards. Delighted, but not entirely surprised.

As well as winning the title University of the Year, Harper Adams, with its reputation for excellence and innovation, also came top in three other award categories: Job prospects, course and lecturers and student support

What makes these awards so special is that it is the students themselves who do the nominating. What a tremendous vote of confidence – and testament to the many ways in which the students themselves contribute to create and perpetuate the vibrant academic culture and community at the university.

After opening in 1901 with just six students, Harper Adams has gone on to become one of the leading higher education providers in the UK and leads in fields such as food science, agriculture and forestry – all critical areas of great challenge for the 21st century.

Its cutting-edge research is important and wide-ranging and undoubtedly has a positive and practical influence on rural industries locally, nationally and internationally.

Its students have been focused on meeting the challenges involved in managing our planet's resources - caring for the land, securing global food supplies, ensuring animal welfare, nurturing sustainable businesses and engineering associated new technologies. In essence, they are working towards all our futures.

To have won the award last year was wonderful, but to have taken it again this year is fabulous – and well deserved.

Smaller universities have a huge role to play – and there is no doubt our very own Harper Adams is setting a gold standard.

Anthea McIntyre,

Conservative MEP,

West Midlands