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Continuing increase in participation in tertiary education

From 2002 to 2005, the number of students in formal tertiary education increased from 386,000 to 457,000, an increase of 18 percent. The proportion of the population aged 15 and over participating in formal tertiary education reached 14 percent in 2004 and remained the same in 2005. Universities and ITPs have been informally reporting decreased enrolments in the early part of 2006.

Formal domestic students and participation rates 1994–2005

Note: Participation rates have not been adjusted for changes in age structure of the population over time.

Main growth still at certificate level

The main increase in enrolments to 2005 has been at certificate level, as it has been in previous years. The strongest growth was in level 4 certificates, followed by level 1 to 3 certificates. Numbers at degree level have declined in 2005, particularly in ITPs. Overall numbers at postgraduate level continue to increase.

Formal domestic students by qualification level 1997–2005

Continued growth in industry training

The number of people participating in industry training has continued to increase, with 161,000 people participating over the full year of 2005. This exceeded the government target of 150,000 by the end of 2005 and is an increase of 51 percent from 2002.

In 2005, there were:

• 31,528 employers participating in industry training, an increase of 28 percent from 2002
• 23,876 national certificates completed by trainees, an increase of 144 percent from 2002
• 8,388 Modern Apprentices as at 31 December 2005, an increase of 93 percent from 2002. They were employed across 5,586 employers.

Trainees in industry training 1995–2005

Source: Tertiary Education Commission

Growth of community education and short courses

One of the concerning trends for government has been the rapid growth of community education and short course provision, particularly in ITPs. This has come about partly as a move to innovative and new approaches to meeting demand for tertiary education and partly as an opportunistic approach to increasing funding and covering shortfalls in other areas of provision. Much of the provision is not well linked to national and regional educational priorities, and has also been of questionable quality.

Student numbers and enrolments in community education grew rapidly in 2003 and peaked in 2004. In 2005, there was a signficant decline in terms of both numbers and equivalent full-time students (EFTS), as ITPs reviewed their provision.

Domestic students, enrolments and EFTS in community education in TEIs 2000–2005

There was also rapid growth in the number of students taking short courses through ITPs. Most of this provision has been in first-aid courses. Provision of this type continued to increase in 2005. A number of measures have been put in place to restrict TEI activity in these areas from 2006 onwards.

Domestic students, enrolments and EFTS in stand-alone courses of less than one week equivalent duration 2000–2005

Note: This includes all stand-alone courses with an EFTS value of less than 0.035 and excludes community education courses.

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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