9 February 1999 Pre-Enrolments on Rise at Lincoln

A pleasing pre-enrolment picture at Lincoln University is seen in part as an endorsement of re-positioning moves undertaken by Council and management over the past 18 months.

"Lectures start on 22 February and the latest pre-enrolment figures for new students and postgraduate students show a positive increase compared with this time last year," says Vice-Chancellor Dr Frank Wood.

"The increased interest from new students could balance the effect of a decreased number of continuing students (a disproportionately large number of students completed their studies in 1998) and thus enable the University to maintain its total enrolment level."

While the actual Semester 1 enrolment numbers cannot be confirmed until after Registration next week, a recent upward trend has been consistent.

The final total for the year won't however be known for some time as Lincoln has two intake periods – February and July. Traditionally the mid-year intake is very favourable for the University.

"Particularly pleasing at this stage is the strong level of pre-enrolments in science, agribusiness related areas and farm management areas," says the Vice-Chancellor.

"This is a trend which coincides with the re-emphasis of Lincoln University's role in integrated resource management and food production.

"Over the past 18 months we have been reinforcing Lincoln University's world-­acknowledged strengths in land-based studies and natural resources teaching and research. We have worked closely with industry and with our partners we have developed 'Centres of Excellence' at the University to put a sharper focus on the things we do well and the way we deliver them."

Dr Wood points to encouraging feedback from employers, many of whom frequently express a preference for the practical and ready-to-work character of Lincoln graduates.

"Lincoln has come to see itself as a key link in both education and business value chains. We add value to people’s lives by providing them with a particular type of practical, applied education which gives them a head start in the employment market and as employees," he says.

"From a business perspective Lincoln's programmes cover the whole spectrum from producer to consumer, providing a unique and very special package of expertise.

"On the research side we are constantly working with industry and potential employers. They know our capabilities and the capabilities of our graduates. There's great mutuality in the way we work with the world today, and when we see our enrolment figures on the rise it reassures us that the public too perceives us as being on the right track."

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