1 March 2000 Austrian University Extends International Ties to Lincoln

Lincoln University is set to become a ‘pillar’ in the international activity of an Austrian agricultural university, following a top level visit to Christchurch by representatives of the Vienna-based institution.

The Universität Für Bodenkultur (BOKU), founded in 1872 and with a current roll of 8000 students, has like Lincoln University, a strong commitment to internationalisation and the Rector along with four professors and the head of the International Relations Centre have just spent three days at Lincoln exploring the basis for future collaboration.

It was the first ever visit to Christchurch by an educational delegation from Austria.

The Austrian university, which has 41 academic linkages with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa, was keen to activate an agreement it has had with Lincoln University since 1996.

"We decided to do it by personal contact," said Dr Irene Mueller, the University's International Relations Head. "Despite email and all the modern methods of communication there is no substitute for personal contact."

Dr Mueller said the visit to Lincoln fitted in with BOKU's new efforts for international activity.

"I am sure the linkage with Lincoln will become one of our pillars of international cooperation."

Rector, Professor Leopold Maerz, said his university was keen to observe the transformation of disciplinary studies to interdisciplinary and even transdisciplinary studies and he knew that Lincoln offered a good example of this.

"This is something we have seen at Lincoln and it seems attractive to us and we think we can develop something together.

"The interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research is something to pay attention to in the expansion of our contact and cooperation," said Professor Maerz.

"Our first area of cooperation will be with students who are interested in exchanges both ways. Our second area will be research. These are the activities that contribute to problem solving and I see the area of resource management as of primary interest to both countries and a field in which we can come together closely."

Like Lincoln, the Austrian university's teaching and research areas include ecology, natural resources, water management, engineering, food science, animal science, plant science, agricultural science, horticulture, and landscape.

Initially three areas have been identified for close collaboration and cooperation – organics, water resources and natural resources/environmental management.

The nature of the cooperation will range from student and staff exchanges, short intensive courses, joint research programmes, and on Lincoln's part the possible tagging of a scholarship for study in Vienna.

As a result of the relationship with Universität Für Bodenkultur, Lincoln University hopes to enjoy a connection with the European Consortium of Agricultural Universities, in which BOKU has taken a leading role.

Both universities have committed themselves to a prompt action to get the cooperation going. Lincoln University's External Relations Manager, Geoff Ormandy, will visit BOKU in April, followed in June by Lincoln's Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roger Field, who will address staff there on how he sees developments unfolding.

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