9 December 2013 Bridging the skills gap: Statement of Intent to get students on the farm

Lincoln University has signed a Statement of Intent with Sims Farm Cadet Training Trust to support the development of an elite, on-farm, primary sector education facility at Mendip Hills Station – a 6132 hectare, North Canterbury property owned by the Black family.

The initiative is motivated by the need to address the shortage of sufficiently skilled individuals in the primary industry. Currently a large proportion of on-farm staff have no formal training, have inadequate skills in literacy and numeracy, or lack a commercial understanding of the financial or production goals of a farming operation.

The situation is exacerbated by the increasing urbanisation of New Zealand society (resulting in a smaller pool of candidates for on-farm employment) coupled with the increasing need to safeguard the performance, longevity and growth-potential of New Zealand’s land-based industries as global demand for New Zealand food exports increase.

It is envisaged that the facility will allow for the delivery of Lincoln University’s LincolnFirst programmes (such as the Certificate in Agriculture) as well as create a learning pathway enabling the Trust’s students to further their education with the University should they wish to do so. The agreement will also allow for the sharing of information and expertise for both staff and students.

“Lincoln University’s priorities include preparing students with skills aligned to the key commercial interests of this country so as to better prepare them for some very real future global challenges, such as catering to the increasing demand for food production and processing. It’s also important that we train students to strategically manage and enhance our land-based businesses in an efficient and sustainable way,” says Lincoln University’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Academic Programmes and Experience, Sheelagh Matear .

“Working with like-minded and highly motivated bodies such as Sims Cadet Training Trust allow us to combine our resources so as to increase the scope and reach of what can be offered in the land-based education space,” she said.

Mendip Hills Station is used for sheep, beef and deer breeding and finishing, and is supported by two additional properties at Longbeach (Mid-Canterbury) and Spotswood (North Canterbury). An extensive farm forestry plan, as well as on-going farm developments intended for these properties, will ensure students are exposed to a wide range of industry matters. 

The Statement of Intent has been signed with an initial five-year term.