17 January 2007 Lincoln can help prepare you for 'immediate deployment' in agriculture

Strong job prospects in New Zealand's land-based industries are drawing school-leavers from throughout the country to agricultural courses at Lincoln University, just outside of Christchurch.

Lincoln University has always been a strong choice for Southland students seeking tertiary qualifications and in many cases several generations of family members have been students there. Indeed, one of the University's halls of residence is known as Southland Hall and its construction was assisted with funding from old students and other supporters in the Southland region.

Lincoln's "primary sector qualifications", that is its certificates, diplomas and degrees in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, regularly make up the second biggest group of awards made at the University's annual capping ceremonies, after commerce qualifications.

What's more, most of the recipients head off into immediate employment and many of the Agricultural Science graduates in particular are "headhunted" by employers in advance and lined up ready to move into jobs the moment they complete their courses.

"Our focus is on preparing students for 'immediate deployment' out there in the real world," says the University's Careers Manager Michelle Ash, "and to help do this we keep in close touch with the needs of employers."

Several factors make Lincoln University a favoured provider of agricultural education. It's been around longer than any other agricultural education institution in this part of the world – and that includes Australia. It was founded 128 years ago, and was in existence for 12 years before New Zealand had a Department of Agriculture! This all means it has a long history of involvement with New Zealand agriculture and knows its subject very well.

Secondly, it has first class facilities for agricultural education – farms, laboratories and research installations.

One of its state-of-the-art facilities is the 186-hectare dairy farm, aimed at demonstrating world-best practice in dairy farm systems.

Much of the research work on the farm is carried out collaboratively and among those closely involved is the dairy industry centre of excellence, Dexcel.

Dexcel, of course, administers the New Zealand Dairy Industry Scholarships. These are highly valued by recipients and well worth investigating if you are thinking of an agricultural course with a focus on a career in the dairying industry. It's a big industry with many different career opportunities both on and off the farm. The scholarships cover full course fees for the minimum duration of a degree programme.

For full information on agricultural courses at Lincoln University visit www.lincoln.ac.nz

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand