Lincoln University linking with overseas institutions

Professor Alison Bailey

Lincoln University is extending its expertise offshore as part of an Australian programme to cultivate the next generation of horticultural industry leaders.

The university's Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce has joined forces with the University of Tasmania in teaching the masters degree course in horticultural business.

Lincoln's role is led by Professor Alison Bailey and included collaborating with the world's top agricultural university, despite mostly staying put in New Zealand.

Professor Bailey made the trip to Australia to be part of the course's first year in 2017 and envisaged more Lincoln staff making the journey this year.

''It's an exciting development to be part of,'' she said.

The course was the first of its kind in Australia for the horticulture industry and was specifically designed for upcoming leaders in the industry.

It was being developed in Tasmania in partnership with international leaders in horticulture including Horticulture Innovation Australia, Wageningen Academy (part of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, ranked number one globally in agriculture) and Lincoln University.

Professor Alison Bailey said modules which Lincoln experts contributed to included horticultural management, financial management, horticultural marketing, global trends and international business, innovation and entrepreneurship, and business development and strategy.

The course was offered through flexible online delivery, with three face-to-face intensives, or workshops and students were tasked with developing a strategic plan for their own company.

Students went online to listen to pre-recorded mini lectures of between eight and 15 minutes' duration.

The lectures were supported by guided reading material, online mini-quizzes and assignments to be completed by the student usually offline and then sent in electronically.