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Increasing participation but low completion rates at degree level

Pasifika enrolments and participation rates in bachelors degrees are continuing to increase. While participation rates are still significantly below those of other students, the difference is reducing.

However, Pasifika students have the lowest completion rate of bachelors degrees over five years of any ethnic group. Only 30 percent of Pasifika students enrolling in a bachelors degree in 1999 had completed by 2003, compared with 43 percent of all students.

At diploma level, Pasifika student enrolments and participation rates have also continued to grow. Pasifika students’ participation rates at this level are now equal to those of all students. Pasifika students have slightly lower five-year completion rates at this level than other students.

Pasifika formal domestic students at diploma level and above by qualification level 1997–2003

Low participation and completion rates at postgraduate level

Pasifika participation rates at masters level continue to be lower than for other students, although there has been a small increase in the number of students enrolled. Five-year completion rates for Pasifika students starting in 1999 were 40 percent, compared with 52 percent for all students.

There has also been a small increase in Pasifika participation in honours and postgraduate certificates and diplomas. Pasifika students had the lowest completion rates of any ethnic group at this level.

The number of Pasifika students enrolled in doctorates remains low, increasing from 63 in 2002 to 67 in 2003. The number has not quite doubled since 1997. Information on five-year completion rates for Pasifika students at this level is not available, as the low numbers enrolling each year make it statistically unreliable.

Increased Pasifika participation in education studies and some areas of under-representation

The following indicators look at the spread and growth of Pasifika participation by field of study at diploma level and above, using EFTS consumed and subjects of courses taken. The indicators are defined in the section on Maori Participation At Higher Levels of Study and Across Disciplines.

Relative growth and relative share indicators for Pasifika formal domestic students by field of study at diploma level and above 2002–2003

The indicators show a strong increase in education-related courses and in some of the areas of under-representation.

The area with the highest absolute growth and second highest relative growth is education, where Pasifika students have been relatively over-represented. Most of this participation is in areas of early childhood and primary pre-service training and is in part due to the increased focus on training Pasifika early childhood teachers.

The highest area of relative growth was in information technology; however, this only represents an increase of seven EFTS in absolute terms. There was also strong relative growth in the areas of health, architecture and building, and agriculture, environmental and related studies, where Pasifika students are most under-represented.

The growth rate of Pasifika students in engineering and related technologies lagged behind that of all students, leading to further under-representation in this area.

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• Table of Contents

• The State of Play

• 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