Yukiko Kako, Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing

From Nagoya in Japan, she is now in the third year of a Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing degree.

“Since I had almost no English skill when I decided to study abroad, having different options to start academic study gave me hope that I could imagine myself doing the main degree in the future,” Yukiko said.

“I studied English for Academic Purposes (EAP) for five months before starting the Certificate in University Studies (CUS).

“The focus of EAP was academic writing and research skills. Before coming to New Zealand, I had very limited skill and knowledge of academic study.

“The things that I studied in EAP are useful for the degree and I actually still follow the rules and structure. Now having a good understanding of academic study, I was able to focus on the course materials without struggling with how to write a report.

She also said EAP was a “good place to speak English without any hesitation”.

“Everyone is learning English there and making mistakes, so it was a lot easier to share my thought even though my English wasn’t good at all.”

She did the Certificate to continue to build her skills, especially around English, before going on to the Diploma in University Studies (DUS), which allowed her to start her degree in a supported study programme.

“CUS helped me study materials in English, not just studying English itself, which was totally new for me at that time. I studied math, economic, environment, and New Zealand history. My vocabulary naturally expanded.

“I enjoyed that the size of the class was so small that I was actually able to have a chance to speak and share ideas with the lecturer and other students.

“As I went through all the courses, I made friendships that hopefully will last for the rest of my life. This also really helped me improve my English.”

Yukiko’s interest in studying agribusiness brought her to Lincoln.

“From reading the course information on the University website, I could see that the degree provides a wider view of agribusiness, both internationally and domestically.

“Also, I thought I could learn the whole chain from farmers to consumers instead of focusing on just one stage.

“I simply enjoy the content of my degree. I get to study a wide range, from food science to accounting, which helps me find out what I enjoy the most and my strengths.

“Having many guest lecturers from the food industry, I can learn the reality and future of agribusiness in different sectors.

Field trips and the rural location of Lincoln make the content of the degree more sense, especially for students who does not have agricultural backgrounds.

She said within a one-hour drive, you could see mountains, the ocean, and farmland.

“And there are so many hikes that take you to amazing views. Since I like some outdoor activities, I quite enjoy hiking on weekends or during university break.”

“I would say that New Zealand is a good place to study and be exposed to different cultures, not only New Zealand culture. The beauty of nature here is something that you cannot see in Japan.”