Otago Polytechnic Tops Degree Results

Otago Polytechnic Tops Degree Results

A Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) report has shown Otago Polytechnic to be the best-performing educational organisation in the country for students completing degrees.

The Performance of Tertiary Education Organisations report revealed that 91 % of degree-level students at Otago Polytechnic completed their qualification in 2009 compared with 78% of students at the University of Otago, the strongest performing university in the country.

CEO Phil Ker says the organisation is pleased to be in this position, as these results impact directly on performance-based funding and sends a clear message to students and stakeholders about the quality of education offered at Otago Polytechnic.

“Given that we have been progressively strengthening our provision of qualifications at advanced practice level, this is particularly satisfying outcome. It is clear that our model of applied education delivery is engaging for students, and our staff deserves a great deal of credit for this result.”

However, Mr Ker says there is widespread concern across the sector regarding the viability of additional metrics used to measure progression and retention of students at Polytechnics. The sector’s median progression result, which quantifies the percentage of Level 1-4 students continuing to higher-level study, was just 29%.

“When measurement of all ITP providers returns a progression rate of just 30% then either the whole sector is not performing, or the metric is at fault. In this case it is the metric, and it is seriously flawed. We must challenge the TEC to come up with something more meaningful as a measure of success.

“The progression metric in particular fails to take into account the intentions of people attending Polytechnics, and the role our institutions play in the education sector. Many of our Level 3 and 4 programmes exist to prepare students for direct entry into the workforce at the skill level demanded by industry. An example is our extremely popular Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) which is designed to be a pre-apprentice programme. There has never been the intention that graduates of programme such as these should progress immediately to higher level study.”

The sector was further concerned that the report failed to take into account the role of Polytechnics in providing professional development training when considering retention figures, he said.

“This retention measurement is also misguided. There is an assumption that all students enrol in a course with the intention of completing a full qualification. A significant number of Polytechnic students are established professionals who may enrol in just one or two courses in order to up-skill in a specific area.

“To be a useful indication of performance, these measurements need to more accurately reflect the purpose of Polytechnics in providing the kind of education and training that meets the needs of students and industry.”

ENDS

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