Rural Studies Merge

Lincoln University, New Zealand’s smallest university, is to merge with Telford Rural Polytechnic, both institutions specialists in the rural sector. Lincoln has about 27 full-time students, including some 7 international students, while Telford has nearly 1 domestic students. The merger means Telford will become a division of Lincoln and both its name and its campus in Balclutha will be retained. Lincoln’s chancellor Tom Lambie said the merger would offer many new possibilities in training for land-based industries. “It will result in vertical integration to encompass all aspects of the agricultural and land-based sector provision and supply chain, from secondary school, sub-degree and undergraduate teaching to postgraduate research, commercialisation and extension activities with industry,” Lambie said. The merger takes effect on 1 January 211.