Media Release

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 

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