8 October 2001 Wide suite of industry-relevant qualifications offered by Lincoln

"Growth, optimism and good jobs are all there in the horticultural industry," Fruit Growers Federation President Martin Clements told Lincoln University degree and diploma students at a campus meeting recently.

"Horticulture graduates have 'worth', they have knowledge, and we have got to have people like you," said fellow President Brian Gargiulo of the Vegetable and Potato Growers Federation.

The point was echoed by Lincoln University's new Professor in Horticulture, David McNeil.

"New Zealand's economic strength lies in its ability to use its land and resources wisely and profitably and the horticulture industry is at the heart of this," he said.

Lincoln University's role in horticultural education and research is well­ established and respected and the options there for those seeking a tertiary qualification are many and varied.

The suite of qualifications offers something for all levels of entry and aspiration from the Certificate in Horticulture and Diploma in Horticultural Management, to the Bachelor of Horticultural Science, Bachelor of Horticulture, and Bachelor of Commerce (Horticultural). And extending the list into the specialist area of grapes and wine there is the Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology.

Then above these there are postgraduate diploma, honours, masters and doctoral programmes also available.

The Bachelor of Horticultural Science is a four-year degree that blends science, horticultural production and management to provide the basis for a wide range of career specialisations.

For this degree students must complete 39 weeks of approved practical work.

The Bachelor of Horticulture degree is a three-year course that balances theory with practice. Students concentrate on fruit, vegetable and intensive horticultural production, environmental horticulture and horticultural management.

Electives may also be included in degree programmes and may include subjects such as personnel management, labour relations, industrial relations, marketing, ecology and pest management.

The content of the B.Hort. degree is identical to the first three years of the B.Hort.Sc. Of the 24 papers for the B.Hort. 13 are compulsory.

A good background in maths and the physical sciences at school is an expectation for success in both these degrees because included among the compulsory papers are subjects such as Chemistry, Environmental Physics, Biology and Biometrics.

As with the B.Hort.Sc., the B.Hort. also requires 39 weeks of practical work.

The Bachelor of Commerce (Horticultural) combines subjects in horticultural management with business subjects forming a degree which meets the professional requirements for membership of the NZ Society for Horticultural Science. It is a qualification which recognises the interdependence of technology and commerce.

The Diploma in Horticultural Management is a two-programme with  a structured first year and options in the second year which include annual crop production, fruit production, parks and garden management.

A 56-week practical work requirement must be completed before the award of the diploma.

This diploma, like Lincoln University's Diploma in Farm Management, can be commenced off the campus in a number of locations throughout the country under the University's Regional Diploma Programme. This opportunity applies to the first year papers only.

New to the suite of Lincoln qualifications is the Certificate in Horticulture. This is a one-year programme covering the first year only of the Diploma in Horticultural Management. There is a practical work requirement of 12 weeks. Eight papers must be taken for this Certificate.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Horticultural Science provides an opportunity for graduates from a range of backgrounds to study in the area of horticultural production, processing, marketing, science and research. The papers are taken from the schedule of masters degree subjects.

"Whatever qualifications pathway you choose, or you find appropriate for you, the industry promises an exciting future," says Professor McNeil. "And as has been pointed out by industry leaders, students should not to confine their view of horticulture to simply 'growing'. There is increasing awareness today of the bigger picture with fresh fruit and vegetables regarded as 'health products'."

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