The Harper Adams University in Shropshire, England has awarded an honorary doctorate to Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chair of the CLAAS Group Supervisory Board.

HRH Princess Anne conferred the award in her function as Chancellor of the University during the celebrations marking the 200th birthday of Thomas Harper Adams, founding patron of the University. Two other dignitaries from Great Britain received an honorary doctorate and a Harper Adams Fellowship as well.

In awarding the title, the University emphasised Cathrina Claas- Mühlhäuser’s significant contribution to the international economy and in particular the cultivation of new markets for agricultural machinery. This is the first honorary doctorate to be presented to Mrs Claas- Mühlhäuser and her father, Helmut Claas, was present to observe the ceremony.
Harper Adams enjoys very close ties with CLAAS through the CLAAS Foundation, which awards an annual engineering scholarship, and has sponsored PhD thesis and research work at the University. CLAAS UK Ltd also work closely with Harper Adams University for their industrial placement programme.

CLAAS and the CLAAS Foundation have maintained close ties with universities throughout Europe and beyond for many years. Besides Great Britain, the associations are particularly strong in Germany, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Russia, Hungary, Poland and China. This close academic network allows CLAAS to keep track of the latest developments in agricultural machinery and to launch projects as a means of promoting early-career scientists.

From left: Dr. Paula Misiewicz (Senior lecturer in Soil and Water Management, Harper Adams University), Professor Richard Godwin (Visiting Professor in Agricultural Engineering, Harper Adams University), Helmut Claas (Chair of the CLAAS Group Shareholder's Committee), Cathrina Claas- Mühlhäuser (Chair of the CLAAS Group Supervisory Board), Parmjit Chima (Head of the Engineering Department, Harper Adams University), Trevor Tyrrell (CEO CLAAS UK), Thomas Böck (Member of the CLAAS Executive Board, Technology and Systems).