27 February 2001 Shipping company boost for university transport studies

Transport industry studies in New Zealand received a boost today (27.2) with the announcement of a three-year $15,000 sponsorship by the country's major container shipping line, P&O Nedlloyd, for the specialist book, journal and database collection in Lincoln University's Library.

Lincoln teaches the country's only Transport Studies and Logistics degree, providing graduates for all three of the industry's modes - sea, air and land.

Announcing the sponsorship at Lincoln University, the Managing Director of P&O Nedlloyd New Zealand, Gary Quirke, said his company welcomed the opportunity to support Lincoln's degree programme in this way as it "complements our general support for education and professional development within the industry".

He said it was "vitally important" that such opportunities existed in the industry.

"The transport sector is responsible for the safe carriage of New Zealand's exports and thus the country's livelihood. The growing volume of trade, technological change and customer demands for higher service standards all mean increased pressure for knowledgeable, skilled and experienced staff at all levels," he said.

"We are pleased to support the advancement of professional transport studies in New Zealand with our sponsorship contribution to Lincoln University's Transport Studies programme. The funding will help provide key information resources for the Library's transport collection.

"The strong New Zealand focus of this information will benefit transport studies and research immensely."

Lincoln University's Professor of Transport Studies, Dr Chris Kissling, said the P&O Nedlloyd sponsorship was part of a continuing partnership with the transport sector to build a valuable resource at Lincoln for anyone involved in teaching and research related to transport.

The P&O Nedlloyd funding will allow continued subscription by the Library to three key transport titles - Journal of Transport Economics and Policy; Transportation Research A: Policy and Practice; and Transportation Research D: Transport and Environment  - plus additional database access.

In a New Zealand first, Lincoln introduced a B.Com. (Transport) degree in 1993. This year the degree title has been expanded to "Transport and Logistics". The University also offers a Master of Professional Studies (Transport Management).

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

Gary Quirke, Managing Director, P&O Nedlloyd.