Professor Bruce McKenzie says Lincoln University’s strategy remains the key driver for its ultimate realisation of becoming a globally ranked, top-five land-based university.
Lincoln University Professor Bruce McKenzie says it has been an honour to serve as acting vice-chancellor, as he now looks forward to starting the new phase of his career. Annette Scott reports.
After three years as acting vice-chancellor of Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University, Professor Bruce McKenzie will return to the classroom when teaching resumes this year.
As a professor of agronomy, he will rejoin his former faculty to teach plant science to a new cohort of Lincoln University students.
His association with Lincoln University began in the early 1980s, when he attended as a postgraduate student, completing a diploma and then a PhD in agronomy and crop science.
From there, he started a 22-year post at the university as an associate professor of soil science, responsible for teaching a range of classes in plant science, statistics and annual crop production.
In 2008 he became Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, which involved managing 150 staff members in four departments.
He worked in this role for more than seven years before becoming the university’s chief academic officer, overseeing Lincoln’s academic faculties, as well as the library, teaching and learning department and the research management office.
He was appointed to the position of deputy vice-chancellor in 2018 and in January 2019 he began his appointment as acting vice-chancellor, and said it has been an honour to serve as acting vice-chancellor and looks forward to starting the new phase of his career.
“I’m very grateful for being given the opportunity,” McKenzie said.
“Teaching is one of my great passions and I’m really looking forward to taking up the mantle again, as well as easing myself back into doing some research.”
He believes he is stepping aside at the right time.
“The university is in a good space and we’ve been financially stable for an extended period,” he said.
“Our Lincoln University strategy 2019-2028 remains the key driver for our growth, financial sustainability and ultimate realisation of becoming a globally-ranked, top-five land-based university.
“We have also created a vibrant and inspiring campus for our students through the launch of our campus development programme and we have successfully completed a number of our key projects, on time and on budget.”
Initially appointed as acting vice-chancellor in January 2019 for a term of 18 months, McKenzie was reappointed for a further 18-month term in July 2020, ending on December 31, 2021.
Appointed at a time when the Government was considering a proposal, later shelved, for a formal partnership between Lincoln University and the University of Canterbury (UC), McKenzie delivered the solid, stable stewardship and engaging, inclusive leadership needed to guide the university through the change process.
One of the more formidable challenges faced during his tenure came in his second-term in the job, when he skilfully steered Lincoln University through the devastating effects of the global covid-19 pandemic.
“The last two years have presented unparalleled challenges for our university, but our academic staff continued to provide teaching and research of the very highest-quality, while our professional staff have safeguarded our reputation and maintained the smooth running of our operations,” he said.
“I feel deeply proud of the ways in which all our whānau have risen to the challenges that confronted them in a period of time like no other.”
Despite pandemic-related constraints on international enrolments, Lincoln’s student headcount in 2021 achieved a 10-year high.
He said getting through covid challenges together has given New Zealanders an increased understanding of where their food comes from.
“Our country’s agriculture sector is almost solely responsible for pulling us out of a very big economic hole and people’s interest in food and fibre production has taken off in the past two years,” he said.
“Being a specialist land-based university, Lincoln University is well-placed to contribute significantly to a more productive and sustainable future for Aotearoa and beyond.
By the second quarter of 2019, a comprehensive programme of campus development projects spanning 2019-2028 had been approved and set in motion.
Major projects included two new science facilities, an ambitious makeover for the recreation centre, the creation of new student social spaces and a reimagined landscape master plan that will connect the university’s built and human environments, while also showcasing its land-based values and incorporating its unique cultural narrative.
In June 2020, McKenzie climbed into the cab of a digger and turned the first sod at a ceremony that marked the beginning of the construction phase of a new fit-for-future science facility, dubbed Science South.
Barely 13 months later, the ceremonial ribbon was cut to officially open the new building before a crowd of dignitaries, project partners, staff, students and invited guests.
Just north of the new Science South building, Lincoln University’s flagship science facility, known as Science North, is taking shape.
Throughout his time as acting vice-chancellor McKenzie remained focused on developing strategic relationships with like-minded organisations including CRIs, iwi, central and local government agencies, industry and other universities.
During his time at the helm, the university has made great strides in internalising the cultural narrative of its whakapapa and embedding a bicultural approach in its educational programmes, its day-to-day operations and in the actualisation of new campus buildings and landscapes.
“I’ve had the privilege of working within a really tight management team who have worked closely and collaboratively together for three years,” he said.
“It was a stable group of skilled individuals who got on well and worked together effectively and cohesively.
“We didn’t always agree on everything, but we always came up with good solutions.
“We accomplished a lot in those three years.”
On a parting note, he says he is handing over to a capable pair of hands.
Professor Grant Edwards took over the role of vice-chancellor on January 1, from his former role of deputy vice-chancellor.
“I’ve known Grant (Edwards) since he was a student here at Lincoln,” he said.
“As well as being one of the smartest people I know, he is a great leader and an astute judge of people.
“Under the stewardship of Grant and the team, I’m confident that Lincoln University has a very bright future.”
