In the meantime enrolments have finally opened for the coming year at Lincoln University’s Telford Division after uncertainty late last year about the future of courses caused a delay in finalising programmes.
Lincoln-Telford division interim director Joan Grace said the courses offered this year were the same as in previous years – the certificate in agriculture, diploma in agriculture and the diploma of rural veterinary technicians.
Correspondence and distance education for certificates in apiculture knowledge, feed management knowledge and STAR and trades academy in schools would continue to be offered.
Taratahi chief executive Arthur Graves said due diligence and discussions were under way with Lincoln to decide if Taratahi would take over the delivery of education at Telford.
While it was not a done deal, news Telford was operative this year was positive.
It showed a commitment by Lincoln to the training campus and to southern farmers but Lincoln would not have made that commitment had there not been meaningful discussions with another provider, he said.
Adding the Telford campus was an opportunity for Taratahi but also important for the primary sector.
“If we didn’t believe it was that important we wouldn’t be going there.
“It is an important opportunity for Taratahi, which will consolidate us as a national organisation.
“The second thing is there has been a lot of encouragement from industry for us to get involved and ensure Telford survives.”
The core modules at both campuses were similar as were their origins though Taratahi was established earlier, in 1919, and Telford in 1964.
Graves said Taratahi offered a more integrated farm education whereas Telford was based more on farm work experience.
Both training institutes operated under acts of Parliament and Graves said the Ministry for Primary Industries would be involved should the two merge.
Grace said Lincoln, Taratahi and the Telford Farm Board, which runs the south Otago farm, had signed a statement of intent that covered the Telford discussions.
That document included provision for the possible transfer to Taratahi of the education operations at Telford, including staff.
Last November Lincoln made redundant four academic and 13 non academic staff from the Telford campus as part of a review of Lincoln operations to address financial difficulties and a static roll.
Farm board chairman Murray Pilgrim said he was delighted at the progress between Lincoln and Taratahi.
“A positive outcome will ensure the successful continuation of vocational training for the industry,” he said.
