12 June 1996 Lincoln University at a glance

 

Lincoln University, 20 kilometres south of Christchurch, is the newest and smallest of the country's seven state-owned universities, but through its earlier forms it is one of the oldest educational institutions of its type in the Commonwealth.

The University, which is aiming at a student roll of 4100 this year (1996), began life in 1878 as a School of Agriculture governed by Canterbury University College (now the University of Canterbury).

In 1896 it was re-constituted as Canterbury Agricultural College and became the first tertiary institution in Australasia to offer a course leading to a degree in agriculture.

It remained Canterbury Agricultural College until 1961 when it became Lincoln College, a constituent college of the University of Canterbury.

In 1990 it was granted independence, autonomy and university status, becoming Lincoln University.

The campus is located about one kilometre from the rural township of Lincoln (population 1600) which has a range of shops and service facilities.

Close to the University are the Canterbury Agricultural and Science Centre (home of a number of Crown Research Institutes related to agriculture and land use) and the national headquarters of the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand.

Although Lincoln had its origins as a specialist institution for agricultural education, it is now more broadly based. Its areas of teaching and research are defined in its Charter as – commerce and management; primary production and natural resources; science and engineering; social sciences.

Approximately one-third of the University's New Zealand students come from the North Island, one-third from Christchurch and one-third from other parts of the South Island.

International students make up 19 percent of the total roll with over 45 different countries represented. Malaysia provides the largest single source of international students.

There is accommodation of campus for 640, with 528 accommodated in halls of residence and 112 in senior flats. There are also 10 family units available.

Lincoln's academic year is made up of two semesters, covering 32 weeks. Examinations are held at the end of each semester. Students may enter the University in either February (all courses) or July (most courses) corresponding with the start of each semester.

The 50-hectare campus is beautifully gardened with trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns and is regarded as one of the most attractive university settings in New Zealand.

On campus facilities include a recreation centre, swimming pool, tennis courts, and sports fields.

The heart of the campus is Ivey Hall, which houses the University Library. Ivey Hall, dating from 1878, was the original School of Agriculture building. The interior was modernised in the 1980s to convert it into a library.

Lincoln University operates five farms (totalling 3260 hectares) and a horticulture research area.

The University offers diploma and degree programmes in the areas of Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science, Commerce and Management, Commerce (with specialisations in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Transport, Tourism, Hotel and Institutional Management, Valuation and Property Management, and Manufacturing and Technology Management), Resource Studies, Maori Studies, Property Studies, Natural Resources Engineering, Science, Farm Management, Horticultural Management, Parks and Garden Technology, Wool Technology, Landscape Architecture, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, Applied Science, Applied Computing, Social Science,

Viticulture and Oenology and Agricultural Engineering. A Certificate in Wool is also offered.

Lincoln is the only university in New Zealand to offer degrees in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management and Landscape Architecture. It is also the only university to offer postgraduate qualifications in viticulture and wine science.

The University has 240 academic staff grouped in 15 academic departments and centres, and 390 non-academic staff.

The Chancellor of Lincoln University is Mr Malcolm Cameron of Wellington and the Vice-Chancellor is Professor Bruce Ross (soon to leave to take up the post of Director General of Agriculture).

 

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