The Minister noted there have been a number of developments since the proposal was submitted, including LU settling its 2010-2011 earthquake insurance claim and the decision not to proceed with the Lincoln/AgResearch Joint Facility project.
He advised that he recognised the partnership would offer a range of benefits for students, research and industry by leveraging off each institution’s strengths and said that already a closer working relationship had resulted in a number of joint initiatives.
Both LU and UC welcomed the Minister’s decision and intend to continue achieving the benefits proposed through collaboration and cooperation. Current examples include the Children’s University Canterbury Partnership, joint academic programmes and discussions on postgraduate collaboration.
A joint working group has been established which both universities are confident will better position New Zealand’s land-based sector to make a greater contribution to a sustainable economy and environmental sustainability through world-class teaching and research.
Background
In August 2018 LU and UC signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore partnership opportunities following detailed discussions between LU and the Government about achieving the step change required for LU to grow faster and to meet the goals set out in the 2017 Transformation Board report.
LU and UC submitted a partnership proposal to the Minister in December 2018 which outlined a partnership arrangement that offered a range of benefits for students, research and industry. The advice received recently from the Minister was the formal response to that partnership proposal.
