1 May 1998 One-job careers unlikely future pattern says Lincoln Vice-Chancellor

Tomorrow's successful universities will deliver their programmes in many different locations and graduates can expect to have many different positions in probably many different countries instead of one-job, one-path careers, said Lincoln University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Frank Wood, at the University's 1998 Graduation Ceremony in Christchurch Town Hall. (24.4.98)

This was a reality of "globalisation", he said, and aspects of it were increasingly reflected in the character of Lincoln. For example, 11 percent of the 804 degrees and diplomas awarded at this year's ceremony went to students who had come to the University from overseas. Twenty-one different nationalities were represented, and for the whole student body at Lincoln the total of individual countries was over 50.

Everywhere education and training were becoming increasingly entwined with research and industry, he said, and tertiary institutions were entering a period when competition would intensify.

Lincoln looked to provide leadership in terms of staff involvement with their discipline areas and innovation in the way and place that teaching programmes were delivered.

Dr Wood said despite the changing environment he was convinced Lincoln would grow and he invited all the graduates and diplomates present to write to him in a year's time to tell him what they were up to and he promised to write back with the latest news from the University.

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