Lincoln calling up next class of rural leaders

22 August 2007

Lincoln calling up next class of Kellogg rural leaders

Applications are open now for Lincoln University’s 2008 Kellogg Rural Leadership Course, the country’s top professional development programme for aspiring rural sector leaders and those already on the rungs of leadership.

“The emphasis is on those who are already showing leadership in their rural community, either through farming, the service sector, local body work or in some other way,” says programme organiser Cora Baillie of Lincoln University’s Professional Development Group. “The key words are rural and leadership!”

The aim of the course is to provide skills in rural leadership and create a confident rural voice in order to balance any possible domination of national policy-making by exclusively urban sector

“We operate from the position that rural productivity is still the backbone of the New Zealand economy and the fundamental source of our country’s wealth.”

The Kellogg Rural Leadership Course was founded in 1979 with an initial grant from the Kellogg Foundation of the United States. The idea behind setting it up was Lincoln University’s belief that leadership is a key factor in the performance of New Zealand’s primary production.

The course was an immediate success and to date there have been over 600 graduates. Previous participants read like a who’s who of the New Zealand rural and business sector. Currently there are course alumni on the board of Deer NZ, Fonterra, Horticulture NZ, LIC, Dairy Insight, Meat NZ, Zespri and Dexcel.

“Kellogg Scholars have made a huge contribution to New Zealand through investing time and energy in the rural sector and their local communities,” says Cora.

Today the programme is funded by the Primary Industry Council, made up of representatives of the Meat, Dairy, Wool, Pipfruit, Zespri and Game industries.

The course has three parts - a residential period at Lincoln University at the start of the year; a period researching and compiling a report on a specific topic of the scholar’s own choice; a period back at Lincoln to present the reports; and a field trip to Wellington to meet and speak with key rural and industry leaders about the practice of leadership and rural sector advocacy in the “corridors of power”.

The course is limited to 24 participants, chosen by a selection committee. The scholars pay a fee that covers accommodation and tuition and meet the cost of their transport to and from the University and to Wellington.

Applications for the 2008 course are open now and the prospectus is available from the website or the Professional Development Group, Lincoln University through Cora Baillie at or telephone (03) 3253 628.

ENDS

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