Massey Launches Ag and Hort Courses for Teachers
Special courses for secondary school teachers to help excite kids about agriculture and horticulture are now being run at Massey University.
FMG offers two students $4000 a year towards their tuition fees when entering their first year of an ag-related degree at Lincoln, Massey and Waikato Universities.
As well as including Waikato to the programme, FMG has also expanded the number of eligible courses available with Lincoln, allowing students to now choose from an; Agritech major, a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing and the Rural major of the Bachelor of Land and Property Management.
"The agriculture sector is brimming with opportunities for young people, both inside and outside the farm gate" says FMG general manager, advice and insurance, Conrad Wilkshire.
A snap-shot of the Sheep and Beef, Forestry, Dairy and Viticulture sectors alone show that:
• Dairy, as our largest export earner - earns the New Zealand economy $1.9m an hour;
• Forestry exports around $4b a year; and
• Wine exports to around $1.3b a year.
Additionally our beef, wool and lamb products are some of the most sought-after of any other country in the world.
"These are big, diverse industries and present huge scope for graduates - from those who like the practical work and want to get their hands dirty - through to others, who want to get into business, finance, innovation and science. The agriculture sector's just about got it all."
"These days, 18 and 19 year olds have a wealth of choice around what to study at university, so by offering these scholarships FMG's doing what it can to help encourage school leavers into courses that will help the industry as a whole. I know there are other rural organisations doing similar and I applaud them for their efforts also."
"I strongly encourage any young person looking to further their education to consider the agriculture industry. Check out the doors and possibilities it could open for you and you career, and then look through our scholarship criteria to see if you're eligible to apply" says Wilkshire.
Over the last 10 years FMG has offered 20 scholarships to students. Eight of these scholars are continuing their studies, while others are building careers; from irrigation specialists to farm managers and dairy consultants.
For full eligibility criteria of FMG's scholarship programme please visit www.fmg.co.nz
