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This indicator set looks at the overall patterns of completion, retention and progression at qualification level.
Information on course completion and retention will be added in the future.
1. Key indicators
First-year attrition measures the proportion of students starting study in one year that do not complete a qualification in that year and do not enrol in the following year. With the exception of sub-degree qualifications, first-year attrition rates have been steadily increasing - and range from 22 percent for bachelors to 34 percent for sub-degree.
First-year attrition rates by qualification level (public providers) 1997/98–2004/05
Note: A change in counting methodology from 2002 to 2003 means that figures before and after this time period are not fully comparable.
Five-year completion measures the proportion of students starting study in one year who complete within five years. Completion rates have been steadily falling for post-graduate and bachelors students, and increased somewhat for sub-degree students.
Five-year completion rates by qualification level (public providers) 1997/2001–2001/2005
Direct higher-level progression measures the proportion of students completing a qualification in one year who enrol in a higher-level qualification the following year. Overall, rates have been steadily declining at both sub-degree and bachelors levels.
Direct higher-level progression rates by qualification level (public providers) 1997/98–2001/2005
Note: A change in counting methodology from 2002 to 2003 means that figures before and after this time period are not fully comparable.
Five-year higher-level progression measures the proportion of students who complete a qualification in one year and enrol in a higher-level qualification within five years. Overall rates have been steadily declining for both sub-degree and bachelors levels.
Five-year higher-level progression rates by qualification level (public providers) 1997/2002–2000/2005
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2. What has been reported
- Baseline Monitoring Report
- Completion of Qualifications
- Monitoring Report 2004
- Completion Retention and Progression
- Monitoring Report 2005
- Retention Completion and Progression
3. Related information
- Passing Courses
- This report provides new information on how many students pass courses in tertiary education, covering the period 2001 to 2005. The report finds that many students pass all of their courses without necessarily gaining a qualification, suggesting that many undertake tertiary study with course-related, rather than qualification-related goals.
- From school, work or unemployment: A comparison of pathways in tertiary education
- This report looks at how pathways through tertiary education followed over the course of seven years differ depending on what students were doing before starting study.
- What factors make a difference to getting a degree in New Zealand?
- This report looks at some of the factors that make a difference to one’s chances of getting a bachelors degree in New Zealand.
- How long do people spend in tertiary education
- This report looks at how long New Zealand tertiary students study for. It provides interesting new data on the differences in duration, attrition and completion experiences of part-time versus full-time students in tertiary education in New Zealand.
- Student Outcomes in Undergraduate Tertiary Study
- This project researched the characteristics of academic staff development programmes and student support services offered in tertiary institutions that make a difference for undergraduate tertiary students in their studies. Student outcomes comprised achievement, participation, progression, retention and completion. The research findings will assist institutions with decision-making around policies and programmes that are likely to be effective for students. The research was undertaken by Massey University College of Education. For each of these aspects a search and synthesis of literature was undertaken and a series of propositions developed. The research is presented in three reports – a full report, and two summary reports for academic staff development and student support services.
- Retention, Completion and Progression in Tertiary Education 2003
- This report looks at recent trends in retention, completion, and progression in tertiary education.
- Pathways in Tertiary Education 1998-2002
- This report tracks the tertiary education pathways followed over the course of five years by students starting in tertiary study for the first time in 1998.
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4. Your views
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| The purpose of these pages is to provide updated and expanded data on the monitoring indicators. Please note that the data has not necessarily been subject to a full quality assurance process and may be revised from time to time. |
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