Lincoln University celebrates highest-ever graduation numbers

Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University will award 1,613 qualifications at its Te Whakapōtaetaka Graduation Ceremony on 8 and 9 May, the highest in its 147-year history, and surpassing its previous high in 2024.

The 2025 total of 1,613 qualifications conferred is an increase of 22% on the 2024 total of 1,320 qualifications conferred.

For the first time in 2025 Lincoln University’s Te Whakapōtaetaka Graduation Ceremony will be held over three sessions, one session for each of the University’s three faculties: Faculty of Environment and Design, Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The ceremonies will be held at the Christchurch Town Hall, preceded by full-regalia processions, weather permitting, in which graduating students march to the Town Hall from the Christchurch Art Gallery, accompanied by their academic mentors and members of the wider Lincoln University staff whānau.

Additionally, the University hosted a Campus Celebration Day on Wednesday 7 May to reintroduce the spirit of graduation to the Lincoln campus and foster connections between staff and current students.

The Campus Celebration Day began with Rā Whakamana, a ceremony for graduating Māori and Pasifika students, where friends and whānau came from all over Aotearoa to support the graduating tauira in celebrating their academic achievements.

Other events included a lunch for PhD students, a celebration for Sports and Future Leaders and the Chancellor’s Reception in the evening. The University’s 2025 Bledisloe Medallist, Dr Robyn Dynes, gave an address to staff, students and the wider community.

Lincoln University Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Edwards said the pleasing growth in graduate numbers underscored the University’s strategic approach to addressing industry demand for skilled graduates while meeting the needs of students pursuing an education in specialist land-based disciplines.

“The strong and sustained growth in our graduating cohort complements our growth in enrolments in recent years, and signals Lincoln University’s increasing influence in shaping the future of the land-based sectors in Aotearoa and globally.

“Lincoln University stands apart as the only specialist university among New Zealand’s eight universities, and our specialisation for the land-based sector allows us to prioritise applied impactful research and educational programmes that are directly relevant to the challenges and opportunities facing the agrifood, tourism and conservation sectors.

“In an increasingly fast-paced world, land-based industries are facing significant productivity, economic, environmental and social issues, and Lincoln graduates are uniquely equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to address those challenges to help shape a more sustainable and productive future for the benefit of industry and our communities.

“Our graduates are capable, motivated, practically adept, committed to leading positive and lasting change, and are typically highly employable. The proportion of our 2023 student cohort who were in paid employment within 12 months of graduating is an exceptional 82%.”

Providing its students with a world-class student experience is paramount for Lincoln University, an objective that is clearly demonstrated through its outstanding student satisfaction rating of 85% (2024 Student Experience Survey) and 80% recommendation rating.

“We are committed to delivering a distinctive Aotearoa end-to-end experience for all our students within an enriching and inspiring environment that supports them to thrive and achieve their goals.

“Complementing our park-like campus, our learner success framework, which focuses on participation, retention and qualification completion, ensures that every student is empowered to succeed at Lincoln University,” said Professor Edwards.

Lincoln University Awards presented at Graduation

Five Lincoln University Awards, comprising honorary doctorates and medals, will also be presented at Graduation.

An honorary doctorate will be awarded to Andrew Macfarlane in recognition of his career spanning farming, farm consultancy and leadership roles.

The Lincoln University Alumni International Medal will be jointly awarded to Samuel Martin and Leighton Pace, co-owners of the London-based company Exterior Architecture, one of Britain’s leading landscape architecture companies.

The two recipients of the Global Science Medal are Emeritus Professor David Palmer, whose career was dedicated to studying Batten disease, and Professor Julian Rayner, whose work on the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasite has contributed to life-saving improvements in malaria healthcare.

The University’s top medal, the Bledisloe Medal, will be awarded to Dr Robyn Dynes in recognition of her outstanding career during which she has led multi-disciplinary, agriculture-focused research and adoption programmes that are both science- and industry-leading.

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