Shift to higher-level, more relevant study

Media release

3 November 2009

Shift to higher-level, more relevant study continues

More New Zealanders are studying diplomas and higher-level tertiary education qualifications Secretary for Education Karen Sewell said today.

From 2007 to 2008, the proportion of domestic students studying for diplomas and higher qualifications increased from 51 per cent to 54 per cent. Students aged under-25-years had the highest proportion of their number studying at this level at 66 per cent.

Karen Sewell was commenting on the key findings of the Ministry of Education’s annual report on the tertiary education sector released today.

In 2008, there were 460,000 students enrolled in formal study programmes with tertiary education providers. Of these 39,800 were international students. The number of international student enrolments was stable in 2008 and early indications suggest a strengthening of the recovery of New Zealand’s position in this market after several years of decline.

``Increasing the number of New Zealanders with higher-level qualifications, and having more first-year international enrolments are positive for our economy and our productivity,’‘ Karen Sewell said.

Profile & Trends is an annual survey of the performance of the tertiary sector and has been published since 1998.

The government spent $4.6 billion on tertiary education in 2008 and this investment is vital for New Zealand’s sustained economic and social development. The New Zealand workforce is becoming more qualified and the priorities set for the tertiary education system for 2010 to 2012 will continue this trend.

There were more New Zealanders studying in the workplace in 2008, up by 4.8 percent on the previous year. Over 195,000 trainees were engaged in industry-based training, including 12,100 modern apprenticeships.

One in two New Zealanders now holds a tertiary qualification, compared with one in four a decade ago, and 17 per cent have a bachelors or higher qualification, compared with 9.6 per cent in 1998.

Find the full report, Profile & Trends: New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Sector at: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2531/52972/1.

Background

The 11th annual report, Profile & Trends: New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Sector, produced by the Ministry of Education, provides a summary of important characteristics and overall performance of the tertiary education sector in 2008.

Key points from the report are:

1. The number of people (domestic and international students) enrolled in formal study programmes at diploma or higher-level increased by 0.5 per cent in 2008. Enrolments increased for level 5 to 7 diplomas by 0.9 per cent, for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas/certificates by 1.2 per cent, at masters level by 0.6 per cent and at doctoral level by 8.9 per cent. At bachelors level, enrolments decreased by 0.3 per cent due to a fall in bachelors enrolments by international students of 18 per cent, while domestic bachelors enrolments increased by 1.7 per cent due to the ‘birth blip’ (those born between 1989 and 1993) moving from school into tertiary education.

2. From 2007 to 2008, domestic enrolments in level 1 to 3 certificates decreased by 12 per cent and level 4 certificates by 5.5 per cent, after having risen strongly since 2000. Certificate enrolments fell emphasising the increased focus on the relevance and quality of tertiary education.

3. In 2008, there were 460,000 students enrolled in formal study and of these 39,800 were international students.

4. International enrolments remained stable overall and the underlying trend in these enrolments is now moving in an upward direction. First-year enrolments by international students increased in 2007 and 2008.

5. From 2007 to 2008, international student enrolments fell by 2.7 per cent in terms of equivalent full-time students, while domestic full-time equivalent students decreased by 1.7 per cent. The decrease in domestic enrolments was mainly driven by significant falls in level 1 to 4 certificates and a smaller fall in graduate certificates and diplomas, while the decrease in international enrolments was almost entirely due to the fall in bachelors degrees.

6. More than 195,000 trainees were engaged in industry-based training, including 12,100 modern apprentices.

7. There were 22,000 enrolments in short courses in 2008 and non-formal education such as adult and community education attracted an estimated 223,000 enrolments.

8. Of the New Zealand working-age population, 50 per cent held a tertiary qualification in 2008, compared to 43 per cent in 1998. Over the same period, the number of people with a bachelors degree or higher qualification increased from 9.6 per cent to 17 per cent of the population aged 15 years and over.

1) There are 10 qualification titles and levels on the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications. The highest achievable level is 10.

2) These figures are from Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey.

ENDS

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