2 October 2013 Ready and relevant for 21st century: Lincoln University launches new land-based degree portfolio

This week Lincoln University has marked a number of significant events. 

On Tuesday 1st October, the University launched its new portfolio of bachelor’s degrees - all of which are now focused on knowledge and expertise that creates careers in the land-based industries, globally.

The new portfolio retains flagships such as the Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture), and introduces new degrees such as the Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing and the Bachelor of Environment and Society.  All the new majors have a very clear focus on the land-based sector. 

“These changes reinforce what this University exists to do, which is to help feed the world, protect the future and live well.  Our reform has seen us reduce the number of majors within our degrees from 42 to 24 (43 percent).  We have narrowed our focus and deepened our capacity to be world class where it really counts, in the land-based industries,” says Professor Sheelagh Matear, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Academic Programmes and Student Experience.

The reform has the explicit support of over 40 significant employers representing most of the dairy and red meat industries, and leading agritechnology companies across fertilisers, genetics, feed and equipment, as well as most banks, many regional councils and iwi.  “If you want a rewarding career or good job in the land-based industries then qualifying with a Lincoln University degree is your essential first step,” says Professor Matear.

Lincoln University also announced its acceptance of an invitation from the Euroleague for Life Sciences – an elite group of seven European universities – as New Zealand’s only participating institution in the League (ELLS).  Only two non-European countries are represented: New Zealand and China (through the China Agricultural University in Beijing). 

ELLS includes European universities from Austria, Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and Poland.  The universities include well-known and respected institutions such as Wageningen from the Netherlands and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria.

“This partnership recognises our international standing. It opens doors to student exchange and academic collaboration with premier institutions in Europe, the USA and China.  It is an honour to be invited in as a partner,” says Jeremy Baker, Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Business Development.

Lincoln University is now reviewing its pre-degree and postgraduate qualifications, also to reduce the breadth and deepen the focus on the land-based industries.  Its growing specialisation has led to Lincoln University entering the global quality score rankings for the first time.

Finally, the University is also making its new Strategic Plan public.  “Making a university’s strategic plan public is an unusual step” concedes Dr Andrew West, Vice-Chancellor.  “We see it as a means to better engage with the community, and it’s the community that owns us.”