4 November 1994 Horticulture Stronger at Lincoln Through Integration

Lincoln University has issued an assurance of strengthened horticulture courses following the recent integration of teaching and research staff.

The university has fielded some public concern about the effect of the integration but Professor of Horticulture, Richard Rowe, says the response is surprising given the university's intention to create a stronger horticulture resource.

"The integration of teaching and research staff will strengthen Lincoln's diploma and degree courses because of the increased opportunities for collaboration between teaching and research staff," Professor Rowe said.

Lincoln's horticultural management staff have joined the Department of Farm and Horticultural Management and most other horticultural staff have joined the Plant Science Department.

Horticultural qualifications at Lincoln include Bachelor of Horticultural Science, Bachelor of Commerce (Horticulture), Diploma of Horticultural Management, Diploma in Parks and Garden Technology and the postgraduate Diploma in Horticultural Science.

"We are confident the integration of our horticulture resources will better meet the needs of students and the horticultural industry," Professor Rowe said.

"It is a logical move given the extent to which horticultural work and plant science overlap. We will be looking ahead to more opportunities for research which will develop closer links with agronomists, plant physiologists, geneticists and molecular biologists."

Lincoln will continue to offer specialisations in Wine Science and Biological Husbandry through the Diploma in Horticultural Science programmes.

"Horticultural staff at Lincoln have led the way in New Zealand in both these fields and as a result the university has a high and well-deserved reputation for expertise."

The head of the Plant Science Department, George Hill, said the integration made obvious sense considering the recent addition of forestry and plant pathology to the department.

"As well as the scope it gives us for collaborative research, the integration will possibly improve our chances of securing funding from FRST.”

The head of the Farm and Horticulture Management Department, Professor Tony Bywater, agrees with the logic behind the integration.

"It makes sense for staff in horticultural management and in farm management to be in the same department. We are interested in the same issues and being together will allow greater interaction, and will strengthen both groups."

Professor Rowe said the dis-establishment of the Department of Horticulture as a separate entity had been interpreted by some as a down-sizing of horticultural courses, but this was not the case.

"We will be offering the same highly regarded university-level qualifications, supported by an expert teaching staff, horticultural production areas, university farms and numerous other research facilities.

"The integration of horticulture with Plant Science and Farm and Horticulture Management simply reflects the level of expertise which is common to a number of fields.

"Integration will create greater opportunities for co-operative work in such fields as biotechnology, plant physiology, crop physiology and plant nutrition," he said.

Peter Dwan, Community Relations Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.