29 October 2007 Lincoln University a long established contributor to the NZ economy

New Zealand's role as a food exporter to the world and global leader in agricultural efficiency depends heavily on education and research.

Farming is both a science and a business and no one succeeds who is not knowledgeable and competent in a whole range of biophysical and commerce-related subject areas and technologies. These can range over food and fibre production, soil and plant science, agricultural economics, farm and property management to international trade and marketing issues.

For nearly 130 years Lincoln University has been contributing to the pool of expertise that has made New Zealand such a leader in land-based industries.

Founded in 1878 as a "school of agriculture", Lincoln University later became a "college" – Canterbury Agricultural College to start with then Lincoln College. In 1990, after many years of university college status linked to Canterbury University, it became an independent and autonomous University – "Lincoln University".

Today it is firmly established in its own right as a land-based university with many areas of specialisation that make it unique and important to the New Zealand economy. Agricultural science, horticulture, viticulture and oenology, environmental management, landscape architecture, valuation and property management – these are some of the specialisations that draw students to Lincoln University from throughout New Zealand and from more than 60 different countries internationally.

The roll stands at around 4000 which is a good figure for a university campus – not to large, not too small. It's a manageable number where people can get to know one another, form good social networks, and where contact with the academic staff is open and friendly.

The largest single group of qualifications awarded at graduation time is generally the Commerce degrees – BComs and BCMs – but within these are numerous majors and specialisations. Agriculture, Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, account for about one quarter of the qualifications awarded annually. Another quarter is made up of qualifications in Environmental Management, Landscape Architecture, Recreation Management, Software and Information Technology, Science (as in Bachelor of Science), Tourism Management, Social Science and other areas.

The demand for agricultural science graduates is very strong and most of the members of Lincoln University's agricultural science graduating classes in recent years are head-hunted for jobs and have employment lined up ready for them the moment they graduate.

The postgraduate environment at Lincoln University is also very strong and nearly 20 percent of those graduating this year (2007) received postgraduate qualifications.

Men and women are at Lincoln University these days in almost equal numbers and all enjoy the beautifully laid out rural campus which covers 50 hectares, close to the township of Lincoln. The University is located just 22 kilometres from central Christchurch.

Ian Collins, Communications Group, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand