SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth

Career pathways for future land-based leaders

Graduate employment outcomes have long been considered an indicator of Lincoln University’s success in meeting both the needs of the land-based sector and supporting students' career aspirations. Latest post-qualification figures show that Lincoln achieves high employment outcomes, with a graduate employment rate of 82%. Of these, 88% work full-time, and 31% work in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry. Graduates also find further education an attractive proposition, with 23% entering further study.

Lincoln University's intertwining relationships with industry, community, and government stakeholders enable it to respond to changes and ensure that its educational programmes and postgraduate research are timely and impactful. This intense focus is supported by the Tertiary Education Commission’s Post-Study Outcomes data for 2024, which shows that the University has the highest percentage of students under 25 years of age in employment among all New Zealand universities.

Fostering cross-culturalism and leadership skills 

At the 2024 Lincoln University Graduation, alumna Deborah Gilbertson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science for her contributions to education. During her 40-year career, Deborah has worked in the science and technology sectors, providing leadership opportunities for women and encouraging cross-culturalism.

In the 1980s, Deborah established a Women in Science Network with the then DSIR. With Lincoln University’s support, she helped establish the Women in Agriculture Network, which reached 10,000 members in its first decade of operation. In the mid-1980s, she led a National Venture Capital Industry Development Workshop, which resulted in significant policy changes and an increase in the number of venture capital organisations.

During this time, she also founded the Emergent Māori Women’s Leadership Programme and, in 2006, established the Te Kaihau Education Trust. Through this trust, Deborah was awarded a United Nations Alliance of Civilisations Award for her ‘Global Enterprise Experience’ contest and its impact on fostering cross-culturalism, peer leadership and social enterprise internationally. Deborah’s current work includes developing graduate diplomas to help emerging innovators advance their new ventures. She is committed to the transformative power of science and the impact of new ventures that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Shining a light on career pathways

A collaboration with the New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology enabled Lincoln University students to meet with seasoned industry professionals and receive mentoring on their future careers. The event included presentations by Lincoln researchers, with Food & Sensory Science lecturer Dr Shaoyang Wang sharing the important role of food sensory science in the industry.

The event then invited industry mentors to speak with students, allowing them to meet a wide range of prospective employers and, most critically, meet people who have had similar experiences. Many of the 16 mentors were Lincoln alumni, who spoke of how their studies opened up pathways into the food industry. Bachelor of Science (Food Science) student Krugar Giffith said talking to the mentors gave him an advantage heading into his career, as he now understood what employers were looking for and the challenges they might face in the future.

Adapting career modelling for Māori

Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University, Dr Mohini Vidwans, co-designed a career framework for Māori, as most previous models have had a Eurocentric focus and were based on the lived experiences of majority groups.

Dr Mohini and co-researcher Lynette Reid proposed an enhanced Māori career framework based on their research with wāhine Māori accountants in New Zealand, which they presented at CATE Conference in 2024 with attendees in the career and guidance practices. The career framework illustrates how career pathways are experienced within dimensions of whānau (family), whanaungatanga (collectivism, relationships) and Te Ao Hou (new world). Whānau is central to one’s cultural identity and societal acceptance, i.e. sense of belonging; whanaungatanga refers to relational practices engaged in across structures and organisations, and Te Ao Hou relates to Māori understanding of the contemporary world.