Students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in the United States have been following what has become a traditional route to New Zealand and their southern namesake.
The students have just spent three weeks studying at Lincoln University, taking part in Lincoln’s New Zealand Education Abroad programme, which began in 2005. Since its inception, more than 250 UNL students have made the trip.
UNL has as part of its learning objectives a requirement that students must exhibit global awareness or knowledge of human diversity through analysis of an issue.
Their time at Lincoln fulfils this requirement, but offers much more too.
They return with an understanding of New Zealand agriculture, including agribusiness, agronomy, animal science, environmental studies, food science and technology, forestry, natural resources and agri-tourism.
They will also be able to compare it to agriculture in the United States and Nebraska.
Geographical differences in New Zealand in terms of government, land use, population demographics and geological features were highlighted, as well as the challenges New Zealand faces as a member of the agricultural export community.
An appreciation of the cultural differences between New Zealand and the United States was also part of their study.
The short programme, centred on Lincoln University’s land-based specialisation, fits their studies at home.
Most of the students are part of the UNL College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CASNR), while the faculty leaders accompanying them are all members of the UNL Department of Animal Science (which is within CASNR).
Lincoln is also hosting a student group from the University of Delaware, which is also a regular visitor as part of the programme.
