Wednesday, 04 September 2019 07:55

Uni merger idea dead

Written by 
Education Minister Chris Hipkins. Education Minister Chris Hipkins.

Any suggestion of a merger between Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury is now dead in the water following the Minister of Education’s rejection of a partnership proposal by the two institutions.

The proposal, for less than a full merger, envisaged a merged governance body and some joint management systems with Lincoln maintaining its own name. 

But it appears that neither institution particularly wanted it to go ahead.

In a letter to the universities last month, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said the cost of the proposal outweighed its potential benefit.

“It has also become apparent that neither Canterbury nor Lincoln fully supports the proposal submitted,” he said.

In a joint statement, the universities welcomed the minister’s decision and said they would benefit as proposed by working together.

“Current examples include the Children’s University Canterbury Partnership, joint academic programmes and discussions on postgraduate collaboration.”

A joint working group now set up will better position New Zealand’s land based sector to contribute to a sustainable economy and environmental sustainability via world class teaching and research, they said. – Nigel Malthus

More like this

Rural bias?

OPINION: After years of ever-worsening results from our education system, the startling results from a maths acceleration programme stood out like a dog’s proverbials – the trial producing gains of one full year in just 12-weeks.

Featured

Rural leader grateful for latest honour

Waikato dairy farmer Neil Bateup, made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) in the New Year 2026 Honours list, says he’s grateful for the award.

Massey University Wiltshire trial draws growing farmer interest

Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Trump's tariffs

President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on imports into the US is doing good things for global trade, according…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter