6 May 1996 Lincoln University

New as an independent university, but backed by 118 years of tradition as an institution of educational excellence, Lincoln is situated on an attractive rural campus just 20 kilometres from the largest city in New Zealand's South Island, Christchurch (pop. 300,000).

Founded in 1878 as a "school of agriculture" it soon became a university college and quickly established a worldwide reputation for agricultural education and training. For example, as a college of the old University of New Zealand it became the first tertiary institution in Australasia to offer a course leading to a degree in agriculture.

Today Lincoln is a self-governing, state-owned university where the modern world's emphasis on business skills, commerce and management is reflected in the discipline areas of its graduates. This year, for example, almost half the bachelors degrees conferred at Graduation time were in the Commerce or Commerce and Management areas, with the percentage of agricultural science degrees now in single figures.

Many of those studying for Commerce degrees were international students, and the percentage of commerce or commerce and management graduates at the University's special overseas Graduation Ceremony in Malaysia in 1995 was 95 percent.

However, Lincoln's commerce degrees cover a wide field with "majors" offered in the following areas – Forestry, Tourism, Manufacturing and Technology Management, Hotel and Institutional Management, Transport, Agriculture, Horticulture and Valuation and Property Management.

The key to understanding Lincoln lies in its description as a "natural resources university". If it is related to natural resources – either in the business, management and commercial sense, or in the production sense, then Lincoln will be involved. From tourism and transport to forestry and farm management; from real estate, recreation and marketing to economics, accounting and environmental science; from engineering, ecology and entomology to horticultural science, agricultural science and hotel management; from business management, resource management, landscape architecture and plant science to soil science, animal science and social science, Lincoln offers it all, and more!

By the end of 1996 the student roll will be 4100 with 19 percent being international students.

Lincoln has an excellent and respected record in international education and students enjoy first-class facilities, a wide range of support services and peaceful study conditions with over 30 programme options at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The University has a strong international network with other institutions for exchange programmes, collaborative research, teaching and student articulation agreements. Formal agreements have been signed with institutions of higher learning in South East Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Students may start their studies at Lincoln during February or July and as from this year it is possible that students may also enter the University during the summer semester in December.

Geoff Ormandy, Director, International Centre, Canterbury, New Zealand