Lincoln University mulls merger

FAIRFAX

LINCOLN MERGER? A Lincoln spokeswoman said the move would ensure national support for land-based industries, from working on the land to internationally accredited research.

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Lincoln University is considering merging with South Otago's Telford Rural Polytechnic next year.

Both institutions predicted no job losses or noticeable changes for students and their councils said they would explore "a future relationship" that included a possible merger in 2011. Both provide agricultural and land-based training.

A Lincoln spokeswoman said the move would ensure national support for land-based industries, from working on the land to internationally accredited research.

Telford's campus is five kilometres southeast of Balclutha.

Chief executive Jonathan Walmisley said the plan could see Telford become "a division of Lincoln", but he was unsure if a name change was possible.

Both institutions could use each other's expertise and networks, and any perception that the identities of both would be "watered down" were untrue.

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