Educational partnership to bridge skills gap in horticulture

Educational partnership to bridge skills gap in horticulture industry

Lincoln University and NorthTec have agreed to join forces to deliver of the Lincoln Diploma in Horticulture (Level 5) in 2014 in a bid to address a recognised shortage of qualified middle management staff on horticultural properties.

The agreement between Lincoln University and NorthTec will be delivered exclusively at NorthTec’s Kerikeri campus.

“The shortfall in qualified middle management staff was recently identified by industry fruit grower representatives who met with senior NorthTec managers” says Dom Steenstra Programme Leader of Primary Industries at North Tec.

The Lincoln Diploma in Horticulture is part of the University’s regional diploma programme which has been operating for 14 years.

The Diploma in Horticulture is a one-year programme which provides graduates with an introduction to horticultural production systems. Graduates also get to work in a range of horticulture related businesses.

Lincoln University’s Lecturer in Horticultural Management, David Shillito says he is pleased to be working with NorthTec.

“We’re very happy to be working with NorthTec to deliver the Diploma in Horticulture. The horticultural industry plays such an important part in the primary sector landscape, so it’s imperative that we work with key partners like NorthTec to deliver the right kind of educational outcomes to meet the current skills shortage.

“There are some great career opportunities in the horticultural industry, and we hope students take advantage of this through the Diploma and NorthTec.”
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