Lincoln University is offering fee waivers for a number of its post-graduate qualifications – but only for domestic students – essentially making the courses free except for some student levies.
The aim is to meet the food and fibre sector’s need for skilled and qualified workers, as it benefits from a trade advantage identified by Lincoln experts.
Professor Stephen Goldson, Deputy Director of the Lincoln-based Bio-Protection Research Centre, and Dr Caroline Saunders, Director of the Agribusiness and Economics Research Unit at Lincoln University, said in an article on the Centre’s website New Zealand is one of a small group of countries which have been international beacons of hope, through protecting their citizens with science-based responses to the new virus.
“That admiration is translating into a trade advantage for our primary sector exporters.”
Fee waivers include taught master’s degrees in areas such as agricultural systems, pest management, accounting, and food innovation, as well as graduate and postgraduate certificates and diplomas in applied science, environmental management and commerce, all offered from Semester 2 in July.
The fee waiver will appeal to current students looking to grow their skills and become even more employable, but also for people who may be looking for a new career, or have had a job loss. They range from one semester long to three, and include online options.
Lincoln, as a specialised land-based university, has a long connection to the food and fibre sector, conducting valuable research and growing qualified work-ready graduates, as well as promoting sustainable initiatives.
Professor Goldson and Dr Saunders said New Zealand must protect its unique trade advantage.
“With such a strong international reputation, however, we also have never had so much to lose if we fail to protect our borders from all forms of pests, not just the COVID-19 virus. And for that, we need an outstanding biosecurity system that detects any potential biosecurity threats before they get in. The science to achieve this is increasingly more challenging, due to climate change and changing trade patterns.”
To maintain the reputation won for quality food and beverages, New Zealand must be able to manage biosecurity threats in ways that are safe and sustainable.
This requires a commitment to science, particularly the science of bio-protection. This science discovers how to manage agricultural and other environmental pests by harnessing the relationships and defences that nature provides. It is science that New Zealand is very good at delivering.
More than 350,000 New Zealanders work in the food and fibre sector, in agriculture and other industries.
The sector contributes over 11% of New Zealand’s GDP.
There is a demand for degree-qualified people in many roles, including businesses and business support roles, as well as scientists, accountants, engineers and agricultural technicians.
You can read the full article on the Bio-Protection Research Centre website.
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Source: Lincoln University
