Makarand Sorte

 
Studying at Lincoln University became a priority for Makarand Sorte after visiting a New Zealand Education Fair in Mumbai.
 
“I wanted to do post graduate study at one of the world’s top agricultural universities - Lincoln University is one of those.”
 
Coming here wasn’t easy. His parents have invested their life savings in his education, and he is conscious of the burden on them.
 
To help defray costs, he and his friends work part time at McDonalds, giving them an opportunity to see the practical application of topics they are presently studying. This includes a focus on agribusiness structures - that is, dealing with the institutional arrangements that characterise different types of business organisation and how these impact on a company’s ability to add value to farm products, and also looking at supply chain relationships and the management of supply chain functions such as logistics, quality and information. In both parts of the course, he and his colleagues are expected to apply the principles they are learning to real life situations.
 
While initially needing to adjust to a different style of teaching, Makarand and his colleagues are very pleased with the progress they are making. Much of this is due to the assistance they have received from their lecturers, Makarand says.

 “People at Lincoln understand the psychology of international students. In particular, one of our supervisors, Dr Sandra Martin, has been like a guardian to us and has gone out of her way to help.”

For her part, Dr Martin, Lincoln University’s Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for International Development says that her friendship and past business association with a Malaysian Indian colleague have enabled her to talk to her Indian students in terms they know and understand, such as the supply chain management of dhal and spices.
“It has been helpful that I know and enjoy Indian customs and can understand my students’ mindset.”