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As explained in the Overview, qualifications completion data provides counts of the number of people completing qualifications each year. It does not provide meaningful information on completion rates, as the length of time it takes to complete qualifications may vary.

Growth in qualification completions is mostly below degree level

Pasifika qualification completions increased by 38 percent overall from 2000 to 2002. This is mostly due to the 48 percent increase in completion of qualifications below degree level. This is reflective of increased Pasifika enrolments at this level. Degree completions increased by 11 percent over the same period, while postgraduate completions fell by three percent.

Figure 64: Completion of qualifications by Pasifika students by qualification level, 2000–2002

Qualification completions varied by field of study

The largest proportion of Pasifika qualification completions in 2002 were in the management and commerce and society and culture fields of study. This is consistent with enrolment patterns. Interestingly, health qualifications made up a larger proportion of Pasifika completions than of Pasifika enrolments, while the pattern is reversed for science qualifications. This may reflect differing completion rates in these areas (probably for the subject as a whole in the case of health) or it may reflect changes in participation by level over the last three years.

Figure 65: Percenage of qualification completions by Pasifika students by field of study, 2002

Note: Mixed-field qualifications have been recoded to a subject code, where possible, using the main subject code.

Assistance provided to support Pasifika students

Funding has been provided to TEIs, through the Special Supplementary Grants, to provide support services for Pasifika students. A review of the Pasifika Special Supplementary Grants funding was undertaken by the Ministry of Education in 2002. It found that:

• the funding has had a positive impact in raising the profile of the needs of Pasifika students. This impact is often disproportionate to the amount of money provided
• more certainty about funding levels would allow planning that is more strategic and that incorporates an evaluation dimension.

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• Table of Contents

• The Baseline Picture

• Cross Strategy Indicators

• Raise foundation skills

• Skills for our knowledge society

• Strengthen research and knowledge creation

• Te rautaki mātauranga Māori

• Pacific people’s development and success

• Capability and quality

• Technical and Data Definitions