10 June 1999 Research Earnings and Postgrads Buoy Lincoln University's 1998 Result

Record external research earnings of $3.5 million, a 7 percent increase in postgraduate student numbers and a 13 percent rise in postgraduate qualifications completed are highlights of Lincoln University's latest Annual Report, released recently.

The Report, for the 1998 year, shows the University on its own (i.e. excluding trading) had a net surplus of $1.2 million after a single non-recurring item – a pleasing performance considering the difficult conditions during the period, says Vice-Chancellor Dr Frank Wood.

The University's consolidated operating result (i.e. for the whole group), before non-recurring items, shows a deficit of $1 million. The main reason for this worse-than-forecast result is that the trading activities had a combined operating surplus which was less than budgeted.

Against this Dr Wood stresses that Lincoln University is debt-free, has a strong asset base, and is in a sound financial position with projections for this year aimed at a better than break-even result.

"In 1998 the University worked hard to further diversify its income streams, introduce cost efficiencies and implement its ‘repositioning’ programme," says Dr Wood, "and we have made significant progress.

"The 1999 year has started well with an increase of more than 5 percent on enrolments compared to previous years.

"Particularly notable was the 11 percent increase in first year enrolments, with Lincoln University being the only New Zealand university to achieve an increase in first year students in February.

"Also up were PhD enrolments (14 percent), masters (14 percent) and postgraduate diplomas (over 30 percent)."

Confidence in the University's future is supported by the pattern of sustained and improved performance over the past five years, particularly in research, says Dr Wood. Examples include a 30 percent increase in external research earnings per academic staff member in 1998 compared with the previous year and a 4 percent increase in publications per academic staff member.

Dr Frank Wood, Vice-Chancellor, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University Canterbury, New Zealand