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What do students earn after their tertiary education?

This report looks at the group of nearly 30,000 young domestic students who last enrolled in a tertiary education provider in 2003, and examines the influence of their tertiary education on their earnings in the first year following study and three years post-study.

Author:  David Scott, Ministry of Education and Statistics New Zealand
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts: 30 September 2009
Does workplace based industry training improve earnings?

This report examines the labour market outcomes of employees who left industry training during 2003–05, by comparing earnings and employment post training with earnings and employment prior to and during training.

Author:  Sarah Crichton, Department of Labour and Statistics New Zealand
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts: 30 September 2009
Training Opportunities: Statistical Profile 1999 to 2007

This paper provides participation and labour market outcome analysis of the Training Opportunities programme between 1999 and 2007, using the Training Opportunities administrative dataset. This is the first time this information has been made available in a single analysis.

Author:  Paul Mahoney, Senior Research Analyst, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting Division [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts: 24 September 2009
The effect of first language and education on literacy, employment and income: An analysis from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills survey

The report uses data from the 2006 Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) survey to look at New Zealanders who have English as an additional language. It explores their literacy and numeracy skills and educational qualifications and the effect of having English as an additional language on employment and income opportunities.

Author:  David Earle, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts : 10 September 2009
Skills and education: How well do educational qualifications measure skills?

This report, based on the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey 2006, examines the link between English literacy and numeracy skills and educational qualifications by looking at the characteristics of people who have high levels of qualifications but low levels of literacy or numeracy, and at those who have high levels of literacy or numeracy despite low levels of qualifications.

It finds that among those with degrees but low levels of English literacy, two thirds were people with English as an additional language, while among those with degrees but low levels of numeracy, half had English as an additional language. Leaving out people for whom English is an additional language, the level of educational qualifications is a good indicator of literacy and numeracy skill levels.

Highly skilled people with low levels of qualifications were more likely to have completed year 12 or 13 at school than to have left school at year 11 or earlier, were more likely to have been born in New Zealand than overseas, and were almost all native speakers of English. We would have expected that there would be a large number of people in older age groups with low levels of qualifications but high levels of skills – people with high ability who left school and went into work in the days before access to tertiary education was widespread. That turns out not to be the case.

Author:  Roger Smyth and Chris Lane, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts: 10 September 2009
Indicators Live: Education at a Glance 2009, Results for New Zealand

Education at a Glance 2009 is published against a backdrop of a worldwide global recession. This gives added prominence to the recurring themes of the growing demand for education and the expected strains on public funding.

Author:  Strategy and System Performance Group [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  September 2009

Released on Education Counts: 09 September 2009
Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu: how can language and literacy be optimised for Māori learner success?

This report explores success in literacy and language learning for Māori adults. It captures the perspectives of Māori tutors and students who were or undertaking, or considering, tertiary education at introductory, foundation or certificate level.

Author:  Hera White, Tania Oxenham, Marion Tahana, Kim Williams and Kimi Matthews, Waikato Institute of Technology
Date Published:  August 2009

Released on Education Counts: 10 September 2009
Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio: learning foundations for Māori adults

Hangaia te mātāpuna o te mōhio can mean to build the precious gift of knowledge or to build the well-spring of learning. It symbolises the experience of Māori adults as they re-enter education to develop their literacy, language and numeracy.

This report summarises three research projects that explore how success for Māori adults in the learning foundations of literacy, language and numeracy can be built on the foundations of Māori culture and identity.

Author:  Professor Stephen May, Waikato University
Date Published:  August 2009

Released on Education Counts: 10 September 2009
Te piko o te māhuri, tērā te tupu o te rākau: language and literacy in marae-based programmes

This report explores the effectiveness of marae-based learning in providing language and literacy for Māori adults. It examines two marae-based programmes at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

‘Te piko o te māhuri, tērā te tupu o te rākau’ can be translated as ‘the way in which the young sapling is nurtured (bent), determines how the tree will grow’. For this research it symbolises the importance of strong learning foundations for future success in learning.

Author:  Susan Mlcek, Ngareta Timutimu, Carl Mika, Monte Aranga, Nikora Taipeti, Te Rurehe Rangihau, Te Makarini Temara, Yvonne Shepherd, Huturini McGarvey, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi
Date Published:  August 2009

Released on Education Counts: 10 September 2009
Te pakeke hei ākonga: Māori adult learners

This report explores success in literacy and language learning for Māori adults. It captures the perspectives and voices of learners, tutors and providers in foundation learning programmes. It describes how Māori tutors reinforce and strengthen their Māori learners’ identities through ensuring that Māori tikanga and values pervade the teaching and learning environment.

Author:  Colleen McMurchy-Pilkington, University of Auckland
Date Published:  August 2009

Released on Education Counts: 10 September 2009
The Impact of the Performance-Based Research Fund on the Research Productivity of New Zealand Universities

The introduction of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) has resulted in much greater scrutiny of the research activities of New Zealand universities. This study examines the impact of this greater scrutiny on the research productivity of the universities.

Author:  Warren Smart, PhD candidate, Department of Finance, Auckland University of Technology
Date Published:  August 2009


Tertiary Education Strategies - Monitoring and Evaluation

This page contains the reports on the Ministry of Education’s monitoring and evaluation of the Tertiary Education Strategies.

Author:  Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  Annually


Numeracy for adults - latest findings from teaching and learning research

This report identifies critical factors for successful numeracy learning in tertiary education. It is based on the latest teaching and learning research from New Zealand and overseas. It sets out the practical implications of these findings for how providers teach numeracy, particularly as part of vocational qualifications.

Author:  Gill Thomas and Jenny Ward (Maths Technology Ltd.)
Date Published:  July 2009


Changes in Student Allowances in 2008

Since 2005 the number of student allowances recipients has risen by 5 percent each year, reaching 65,700 in 2008.

Author:  Central Forecasting and Modelling Unit [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  July 2009


Ebbs and flows: Participation in post-compulsory education over the economic cycle

This report examines historical enrolment data to analyse the association between the economic cycle and participation in senior secondary school and in tertiary education.

Author:  Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  July 2009


April 2009 tertiary education enrolments snapshot

  • More domestic and international students studied at higher levels and in longer qualifications in April 2009 compared with April 2008.
  • Formal enrolments increased from April 2008 to April 2009 by 2.8 percent and when this number is converted to equivalent full-time student units the increase was bigger – up by 6.2 percent. This means that the average study load per student has risen.
  • A rise in enrolments by 18 to 24 year-olds was the main driver of the latest increase, while fewer people aged 40 years or over studied in April 2009.

Topics covered in this factsheet include qualification levels, place of study, age and ethnic group, student allowances and student loans.

Author:  Mieke Wensvoort, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting
Date Published:  June 2009


Advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications – trends in supply

This is report is the last in a series of three reports looking at the supply of and demand for advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications.

Author:  David Earle, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting team
Date Published:  June 2009


Future demand for tertiary education in New Zealand: 2009 to 2025 and beyond

This study models demand for tertiary education between 2009 and 2025 based on underlying population trends and three scenarios with different assumptions about how rates of participation in tertiary education might vary.

Author:  Ralf Engler, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  June 2009


Counting the cost: an analysis of domestic tuition fees

This report examines trends in domestic tuition fees under various government policies since 1990. In particular, there is a focus on trends in domestic tuition fees under the current Fee and Course Costs Maxima (FCCM) policy.

Author:  Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  June 2009


Tertiary education enrolments - 2008

  • The shift from level 1 to 3 certificates to higher-level and longer qualifications (levels 4 to 10) continued in 2008.
  • More young New Zealanders – students under 25 years of age – studied bachelors degrees and graduate/postgraduate certificates and diplomas in 2008.
  • Formal tertiary education enrolments fell from 2007 to 2008. The main contributor to the overall decrease was the fall in domestic enrolments in level 1 to 4 certificates.
New information on students: place of study, choice of provider, qualifications taken, and other important characteristics of people undertaking tertiary education study is included in this report.
Go to the tertiary statistics page for more data on the 2008 tertiary education enrolments.

Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
Date Published:  April 2009


A closer look at completion in higher education in New Zealand

New Zealand has one of the lowest reported higher education qualification completion rates in the OECD, significantly below Australia. Why do so many New Zealand students not complete their qualification? This paper looks behind some of the numbers in an attempt to better understand and assess New Zealand's performance compared with Australia and internationally. It looks, for example, at the impact of part-time and partial qualification study on completion rates. New Zealand has the highest reported level of part-time study in the OECD, and one in eight bachelor’s-degree students in New Zealand pass every subject they've enrolled in, yet have not completed their degree after five years. What does this tell us about intentions and about how we should gauge success?

The paper takes another look at some international comparisons focussing on full-time students, and also looks at the impact of transfers, changing qualifications, and what happens to rates when a ten-year window is taken instead of a five-year window.

Author:  David Scott, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  May 2009


High Level Executive Summary: Quality Teaching, Research and Development Māori Medium

The focus of this summary is on the Māori Medium which involved a university team, two school based hubs (settings) of teachers with in-service teacher educator support and a provider to support on-line communication and materials development.

Author:  Developed from research coordinators’ original reports with their agreement.
Date Published:  May 2009

Released on Education Counts: August 2009
Skills, qualifications and wages - an analysis from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills survey

This study used data from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills survey to look at the extent to which hourly wages can be explained by skills and qualifications across industries and occupations. Hourly wages can be viewed as a measure of employee productivity. The results show that qualifications and literacy and numeracy skills are both related to higher hourly wages. However, the effects differ across industries and occupation. In addition, age, gender and first-language also have an influence on wages.

Author:  David Earle, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting
Date Published:  May 2009


Pasifika tertiary education students by ethnicity: 2007

This is edition two in an annual series on the Pasifika tertiary education students by ethnicity. There is an associated set of tables available on the Pasifika education statistics page here on Education Counts.

This factsheet includes gender information on the ethnicities of New Zealand’s Pasifika tertiary education students. It shows the trends in participation in tertiary study for the various Pasifika ethnicities: what qualifications Pasifika students are taking, where they are studying, their field of study, their ages, and other important characteristics of Pasifika students.

Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
Date Published:  April 2009


Pasifika peoples in tertiary education in New Zealand: 2007

This is edition two in an annual series on Pasifika tertiary education students. There is an associated set of tables available on the Pasifika education statistics page here on Education Counts.

This factsheet includes gender information on Pasifika tertiary education students, the qualifications students are taking, where they are studying, field of study, student allowances and loans and other important characteristics of Pasifika students. Also included is information on Pasifika employees in industry training and some comparisons with international students from the Pacific.

Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
Date Published:  April 2009


Industry Training – Exploring the Data

This report examines industry training administrative datasets to determine the feasibility of their use for analytical purposes. It finds that the industry training data, despite some flaws, is suitable for use for identifying key trends in industry training, and for wider analyses.

Author:  Paul Mahoney, Senior Research Analyst
Date Published:  April 2009


Trends in fields of study of bachelors degree graduates in New Zealand

This report looks at trends in the fields of specialisation of bachelors degree graduates in New Zealand over the period 2002 to 2006. It uses newly developed, more detailed, and more reliable information on field of study than has previously been available.

Teacher education, business and management, and studies in human society, sales and marketing, law and nursing were the most common fields of specialisation for domestic bachelors graduates in 2006. The fastest growing areas have been biological sciences, law, communication and media studies, and social work and counselling. The fastest declining areas were information technology, teacher education, education studies, and accountancy.

The report also analyses field of study differences between provider types, domestic and international, male and female, and between different ethnic groups.

Accompanying this report is a large range of new tables on field of study.

 Provider-based enrolments: field of study
 Provider-based equivalent full time students (EFTS): field of study
 Field of specialisation for students gaining qualifications


Author:  David Scott, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  April 2009


Promoting quality research

This report used data from the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) Quality Evaluations to analyse the factors associated with the likelihood of university academics being promoted between 2003 and 2006.

Author:  Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  April 2009


Modern Apprenticeships – Completion Analysis

This report describes an analysis of the Modern Apprenticeships scheme through examination of the Modern Apprenticeship coordinator data collection, and the industry training administrative dataset. The report extends the concepts and statistical methods used in the companion report industry training - exploring the data.

Author:  Paul Mahoney, Senior Research Analyst
Date Published:  April 2009


Making an impact

This report analyses the bibliometric performance of New Zealand universities between 1994 and 2007 using data from Thomson Reuters. The report also examines the impact of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) on the academic impact of research by staff at New Zealand universities, as measured by citations per publication. In addition, the report compares the bibliometric performance of New Zealand universities with Australian universities.

Author:  Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  March 2009


Labour market outcomes of student support recipients

This study examines the relationship between receipt of student support and earnings three and five years after tertiary education.

Author:  Bhaskaran Nair, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  March 2009


‘Well-being and education’ and ‘How well do qualifications predict literacy and numeracy’: short analyses from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey

These two fact sheets provide short analyses from the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey 2006. They look at:

  • The relationship between New Zealanders’ education level and their assessment of their well-being
  • The extent to which educational qualifications can be used to predict literacy and numeracy levels

Author:  Comparative Education Research and Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  March 2009


Does it really matter where you study?

This report compares the earnings of people who have completed a bachelors degree at a university with the earnings those who completed a similar qualification at a polytechnic.

Author:  Roger Smyth, Jamie Hyatt, Bhaskaran Nair and Warren Smart [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  March 2009


Changes in Student Allowances in 2007

The number of student allowances recipients rose by 5 percent in both 2006 and 2007 reaching 62,500 in 2007. These increases followed a period of falling uptake.

Author:  Central Forecasting and Modelling Unit [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  December 2008


Student Loan Scheme Annual Reports

This is the home page for the Student Loan Scheme Annual Report publication series. See below for a general description of the publication or follow one of the links to view the publication for that year.

Author:  Ministry of Education, Inland Revenue and Ministry of Social Development
Date Published:  Annually


Profile & Trends

Use the following links for information on:
- The tertiary education system
- What the tertiary education sector provides
- Finding out more about tertiary education

Profile & Trends is a primary information resource on New Zealand’s tertiary education system covering participation, achievement, resourcing, capability, research and much more.

In addition to the analysis of sector trends and performance, the report contains a number of short articles covering a range of topics of interest to the sector’s stakeholders and those who are involved in the provision of tertiary education.

Author:  Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  Annually


Measuring up – How does the New Zealand’s tertiary education system compare?

Each year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) publishes Education at a Glance, a collection of indicators that compares the performance of the education systems of its member countries. The indicators in this report give us a good opportunity to view the performance of our system against the systems of other countries. Despite some limitations, the Education at a Glance indicators give us the most reliable and most complete basis for comparison currently available to us.

Measuring up looks at the tertiary education indicators and examines how New Zealand performs on the most important indicators.

Author:  Roger Smyth & Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  September 2008


Different Tracks - a look at the different ways New Zealanders get tertiary qualifications

This report looks at the extent to which tertiary students change qualifications or providers during the course of their study, and the impact this has on overall tertiary system performance.

The report shows that around 5% of students change to and complete higher-level qualifications, while between 5% and 10% change to and complete lower-level qualifications. Individual provider completion rates (which exclude transfers) are between 6 and 8 percentage points lower than system completion rates (which do include transfers). Current success indicators do not always include these students. Therefore, they under-estimate performance of the tertiary education system.

Author:  David Scott, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  July 2008


Advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications – matching supply to demand

There is a limited number of areas where it is clear that increasing the number of people with trade, technical or professional qualifications would definitely reduce skill shortages. These areas are in engineering, building and medical professions. Demand in these areas has been driven by increased use of technology, increased construction activity and increased demand for health services. In other areas examined in the report, improving the quality and relevance of qualifications is likely to be as important, or even more important, than increasing the number of people graduating.

This is report is the second in a series of three reports looking at the supply of and demand for advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications. The first report, looking at demand for qualifications is available on Education Counts.

Author:  David Earle [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  July 2008


Trends in measured research quality: An analysis of PBRF Quality Evaluation results

This report analyses the results of the 2003 and 2006 Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) Quality Evaluations to identify the demographic and employment-related characteristics associated with change in the measured quality of research produced by around 2,000 staff who participated in both Quality Evaluations.

Author:  Warren Smart, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  July 2008


Educational achievements of student support recipients

This report presents the results of a study on the effects of different types of financial aid, provided through the student support system, on educational outcomes of students participating in tertiary study. The types of student support looked at included the student allowances and student loan schemes. This support is provided to improve access to tertiary education and reduce the social disparity arising out of education benefits.

Author:  Bhaskaran Nair, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting, Ministry of Education
Date Published:  July 2008


Post-school choices: additional short analyses

These four fact sheets are intended to supplement the report Post-school choices by building on the statistical model used in that report but narrowing the focus to look at the post-school choices of these three groups of students

  • High achieving students.
  • Māori students.
  • Students from low decile schools.
  • In addition, the fourth fact sheet looks at how the number of unit standard credits students attain while at secondary school is associated with their post-school choices.

    Author:  Scott Ussher, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting
    Date Published:  June 2008


Hei titiro anō i te whāinga: Māori achievement in bachelors degrees revisited

This report revisits and updates Te whai i nga taumata atakura – supporting Māori achievement in bachelors degrees. In this report, we look in greater detail at the link between NCEA results and Māori success in first-year bachelors degree study.

The findings in this report confirm the earlier study, while providing more detail on the link between school performance and tertiary success. An important finding is that Māori students enter degree study, on average, with lower school qualifications and lower NCEA results than their non-Māori peers. Māori students who had the same level of performance in NCEA as non-Māori did slightly less well on average in their first-year degree studies.

Author:  David Earle, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting [Ministry of Education]
Date Published:  June 2008


Research par excellence: The factors associated with higher research quality in New Zealand tertiary education organisations

This report applies statistical modelling to the results of the 2006 Performance-Based Research Fund Quality Evaluation to identify the staff characteristics associated with higher research quality.

Author:  Warren Smart
Date Published:  May 2008


Post-school choices: How well does academic achievement predict the tertiary education choices of school leavers?

This report examines the association between academic achievement at secondary school and participation in the various types of tertiary education. This new research supports the government's goal of improving outcomes for young people.

It provides a complement to the report How does achievement at school affect achievement in tertiary education?, which explores the relationship between academic achievement at secondary school and first-year achievement in tertiary education.

Author:  Scott Ussher
Date Published:  May 2008


How does achievement at school affect achievement in tertiary education?

This report explores the relationship between academic achievement at secondary school and first-year achievement in tertiary education. The analysis uses a measure known as 'expected percentile' and school qualification to explain the performance of school leavers in their first year in tertiary education.

This report provides a complement to the report Post-school choices, which explores the link between school achievement and choices around participation in tertiary education.

Author:  David Scott
Date Published:  May 2008


Advanced trade, technical and professional qualifications – identifying demand

Demand for people in the workplace with advanced skills is increasing. Having more people with advanced qualifications is one part of the solution. This report finds that the areas of study where there is high unmet demand for advanced qualifications include information technology, engineering, building and health.

Author:  David Earle
Date Published:  May 2008


2007 Tertiary Education Enrolments

  • More young New Zealanders – those aged 18 to 24 years – studied bachelors degrees and bachelors degrees with honours, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas in 2007. This result shows progress to one of the priority outcomes for tertiary education.
  • Formal tertiary education enrolments fell from 2006 to 2007, while the amount of study remained virtually the same through slightly higher study loads.
  • New information on where students are studying, what qualifications they are taking, and other important characteristics of people undertaking tertiary education study is included in this report.

    Statistical table available here

    These tables contain more data on the 2007 tertiary education enrolments.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
    Date Published:  April 2008


    Students’ Transition between School and Tertiary Education: 2nd Edition

    The purpose of this document is to report on recent trends in school leavers’ transition between school and tertiary education.

    Author:  Marian Loader & Jacinta Dalgety, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  April 2008


    Research project on International Student Exchanges – Sending our Students Overseas (2008)

    This research reports on the uptake of study abroad opportunities by New Zealand tertiary students. The research was undertaken by Victoria University on contract to the Ministry of Education. The report provides key reasons for low uptake of study abroad by New Zealand students; proposes a number of factors which students and institutions could consider to increase the attractiveness of exchange programmes; and includes downloadable Guidelines for New Zealand tertiary education institutions to help promote and support international student exchange opportunities for New Zealand students.

    Author:  Stephanie Doyle, Phil Gendall, Carolyn Tait, Luanna Meyer, Janet Hoek, Lynanne McKenzie, & Avatar Loorparg.

    Jessie Hetherington Centre for Educational Research, Victoria University of Wellington, in collaboration with the Department of Marketing, Massey University

    Date Published:  March 2008


    The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey: Overview and International Comparisons

    This report is the first in a series of four that investigate the initial results of the ALL survey. It examines any changes in literacy and numeracy skill between the 1996 International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) and the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) survey - results collected in New Zealand in 2006. It also compares the results from the New Zealand ALL survey with those from Australia, Canada and the USA.

    Author:  Paul Satherley, Elliot Lawes and Saila Sok
    Date Published:  March 2008


    How the PBRF has shifted research funding

    This factsheet looks at the extent to which the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) has or has not resulted in shifts of funding between sub-sectors and, within the university sub-sector, between universities. It first considers the extent of funding shifts by comparing the shares of total research funding allocated in 2007. It then analyses the effects of the weightings that apply to different subject areas in the PBRF.

    Author:  Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  February 2008


    Monitoring research: a synthesis of Ministry of Education analyses of tertiary education research 2004-2008

    This report presents a synthesis of the findings of Ministry of Education research between 2004 and 2008 into the research performance of New Zealand’s tertiary education sector.

    Author:  Warren Smart & Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  February 2008


    Pasifika peoples in tertiary education in New Zealand: 2006

    This is edition one in an annual series on Pasifika tertiary education students. There is an associated set of tables available on the Pasifika education statistics page here on Education Counts.

    This factsheet presents information on the qualifications Pasifika students are taking, where they are studying, field of study, student allowances and loans and other important characteristics of Pasifika students. Also included is information on Pasifika employees in industry training and their 2006 income distribution.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  February 2008


    Pasifika tertiary education students by ethnicity: 2006

    This is edition one in an annual series on Pasifika tertiary education students by ethnicity. There is an associated set of tables available on the Pasifika education statistics page here on Education Counts.

    This factsheet includes the trends in participation in tertiary study for the various Pasifika ethnicities: what qualifications students are taking, where they are studying, field of study, age groups, and other important characteristics of Pasifika students. Also included are some comparisons with international students from the Pacific.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  February 2008


    Changes in Student Allowances in 2006

    The Student Allowances Scheme was introduced in 1989 to help students from low-income families meet their living costs while studying full-time.

    Author:  Central Forecasting and Modelling Unit, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  January 2008


    The ALL Survey: An Introduction

    This publication is intended as an introduction to the ALL survey. It explains the nature of the ALL survey, its application and how the ALL survey results will be presented. It contains none of the ALL survey results.

    Author:  Paul Satherley and Elliot Lawes
    Date Published:  September 2007


    State of Education in New Zealand

    This is the home page for the annual State of Education in New Zealand publication series. This report presents a picture of New Zealand’s education system with indicators on participation, achievement, effective teaching, labour market outcomes and resourcing across the early childhood, schooling and tertiary sectors.

    Author:  Strategy and System Performance, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  Annually


    The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey: Further Investigation

    This fact-sheet is a sequel to that entitled The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey: Headline Results and Background.

    Author:  Research Division, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  December 2007


    The Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey: Headline Results and Background

    This fact-sheet provides the first headline results of the Adult Literacy and Life Skills (ALL) Survey together with some background information.

    Author:  Research Division, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  December 2007


    Persistence in doctoral research: analysing the impact of the PBRF on the retention of doctoral students

    This report examines the factors that influence the retention of doctoral students in tertiary study – where retention is defined as a doctoral candidate continuing in study in the next year or completing their doctorate. In doing so, this study analyses what initial impact, if any, the introduction of the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) has had on the retention of doctoral candidates in study.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  December 2007


    Comparing the academic impact of research by New Zealand and Australian universities 1981-2005

    This report compares the academic impact of the research by New Zealand and Australian universities, as measured by citations per publication, between 1981 and 2005.

    This report is one of a series that explores a newly available bibliometric database to analyse the research performance of New Zealand universities. This report complements (ex)Citing research which examined the academic impact of research by New Zealand universities.

    Author:  Warren Smart and Marieke Weusten
    Date Published:  December 2007


    Linking students: Review of the methods used to link students in historical New Zealand tertiary education data

    This technical report documents a major review of the methods used by the Ministry of Education to link the records of tertiary education students across time and across providers. It reviews the quality of these methods, and their impact on New Zealand's qualification completion and attrition statistics.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  November 2007


    Tertiary education choices of school leavers

    The purpose of this report is to build an understanding of how school leavers are transitioning into tertiary education. The report examines the transitions of 2004 school leavers into tertiary education by a variety of personal, schooling and tertiary education characteristics and seeks to show where differences exist.

    Author:  Scott Ussher
    Date Published:  November 2007


    Tertiary education of New Zealanders: a census analysis

    These factsheets present data from the latest census on the attainment of tertiary education qualifications by the New Zealand working-age population. The factsheets also examine the labour market outcomes associated with attaining a tertiary qualification.

    Author:  Bhaskaran Nair and Warren Smart
    Date Published:  October 2007


    The ALL Study: An Introduction - Poster

    This poster is intended as an introduction to the ALL study. It seeks to explain the nature of the ALL study, its application, and how the ALL results will be presented. It contains none of the ALL results itself.

    Author:  Paul Satherley and Elliot Lawes
    Date Published:  September 2007


    Does the student loan scheme discourage students from returning to study?

    This report has been initiated by the Ministry of Education in order to gain an insight into educational pathways and the aspirations of former tertiary students who return to study. By establishing a demographic, educational and borrowing profile of returning students, this reports aims to identify the factors affecting student return to study. In particular, the study focuses on the impact of an individual’s student loan borrowed for previous studies on their return.

    Author:  Sarah Tumen & Boaz Shulruf
    Date Published:  September 2007


    Quality vs Impact: A comparison of Performance-Based Research Fund quality scores with citations

    This report compares the academic impact of research produced by New Zealand universities, in the form of citations per full-time equivalent (FTE) researcher, with the quality of research at the universities, as measured by Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) average quality scores, across ten broad subject areas.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  August 2007


    (ex)Citing research: A bibliometric analysis of New Zealand university research 1981-2005

    This report examines the academic impact of the research by New Zealand universities, as measured by citations per publication, between 1981 and 2005.

    This report is one of a series that explores a newly available bibliometric database to analyse the research performance of New Zealand universities. It presents important baseline data that can be used to help in future analysis of the impacts of the Performance-Based Research Fund on research performance.

    Author:  Warren Smart and Marieke Weusten
    Date Published:  July 2007


    Te whai i ngā taumata atakura: supporting Māori achievement in bachelors degrees

    This study looks at what matters for the success of first-time Māori students studying towards bachelors degrees. The purpose of this study is to build understanding about how to increase the number of Māori attaining bachelors degrees or higher.

    Author:  David Earle
    Date Published:  June 2007


    Measuring the returns on investment in tertiary education three and five years after study

    This study found that there were significant financial benefits to people from their investment in tertiary education, with higher returns to those who completed a qualification.

    Author:  Bhaskaran Nair
    Date Published:  June 2007


    Participation in tertiary education: A birth cohort approach

    This report looks at the rates at which a range of birth cohorts have participated in tertiary education in New Zealand . This study takes two views of birth cohort tertiary education participation trends. The first is a long-term view looking at three birth cohorts, those people born in 1949, 1962 and 1975. The second view looks at the participation trends of those people born in 1978, 1980, 1982 and 1984 using longitudinal enrolment data.

    Author:  Scott Ussher
    Date Published:  April 2007


    He tini manu reo: learning te reo Māori through tertiary education

    This report examines the size and impact of the provision of te reo Māori courses through tertiary education over the period from 2001 to 2005, in order to provide an information base for considering future directions for supporting te reo Māori through tertiary education and areas for further research.

    Author:  David Earle
    Date Published:  April 2007


    2006 Tertiary Education Enrolments

    This release presents new information from the 2006 enrolment collections provided to the Ministry of Education by tertiary education providers. The return collects information on where students are studying, what qualifications they are taking, and other important characteristics of people undertaking tertiary education study.

    Updated summary tables for the 2006 New Zealand tertiary education enrolments - an explanatory note.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
    Date Published:  April 2007


    Māori in Tertiary Education - fact sheets

    A series of factsheets on Māori in tertiary education. These latest fact sheets present data on the participation, retention and progression of Māori students in tertiary education, by qualification level.

    Author:  David Earle, Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis & Reporting/Māori Tertiary Education, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  Last Updated: March 2007


    OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education 2004-2007

    New Zealand is one of 24 countries participating in a thematic review of tertiary education being conducted over the period 2004 – 2007 by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

    Author:  
    Date Published:  Last updated: 30 January 2007


    Adult Foundation Learning

    In this section you will find research reports produced relating to adult literacy, numeracy and language.

    Author:  Various
    Date Published:  Various


    What factors impact on graduates' earnings three years post-study?

    This report looks at the post-study earnings of those who borrowed through the Student Loan Scheme. It looks at the earnings of people three years after they left study. The analysis provides new information on the extent of change in the earnings of graduates who studied at different qualification levels.

    Author:  Bhaskaran Nair
    Date Published:  December 2006


    A changing population and the New Zealand tertiary education sector

    The size of the tertiary student population is an indicator of the accessibility of tertiary education. It is also a key determinant of the levels of human capital that will be available to the New Zealand labour force
    The purpose of this report is to note the influence of projected population change on the tertiary education system. It comments on the implications of demographic change for the size and make-up of the tertiary student population, the network of public provision and, to a lesser extent, on the levels of human educational capital the tertiary system produces.

    Author:  Jason McClelland
    Date Published:  November 2006


    Trends in the Contribution of Tertiary Education to the Accumulation of Educational Capital in New Zealand: 1981-2001

    One of the key determinants of our country’s economic progress is the level of skills in our population, and one of the key ways we track skill levels is by looking at the educational qualifications of our population. This report analyses the accumulation of tertiary education qualifications in the New Zealand resident population over the period 1981 to 2001 using data from the Census and from other sources. The accumulation of qualifications is an index of the human educational capital.

    Note: The conclusions of this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Ministry of Education.

    Author:  James Newell and Martin Perry, Monitoring and Evaluation Research Associates, on behalf of the Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  November 2006


    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.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  November 2006


    What makes a student travel for tertiary study?

    This report looks at the mobility of tertiary students in terms of the distances they travel to undertake their tertiary studies. The report provides new information on how far students travel and the reasons behind students’ decisions to travel for tertiary study.

    Author:  Scott Ussher
    Date Published:  September 2006


    Outcomes of the New Zealand tertiary education system - a synthesis of the evidence

    This report provides a synthesis of the evidence of the outcomes of the New Zealand tertiary education system. The report quotes a number of statistical studies completed over the last six years and also reproduces some previously published summaries of the evidence. Overall, the overwhelming weight of evidence points to there being significant and positive outcomes from the tertiary education system.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  August 2006


    Education Statistics of New Zealand

    This is the home page for the Education Statistics of New Zealand publication series. These publications provide basic information on the education sector.

    Author:  Data Management and Analysis Division, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  Annually


    Older Students

    A factsheet describing the latest trends and characteristics of the growing number of New Zealanders aged 40 and over participating in tertiary education.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  May 2006


    Do Student Loans Drive People Overseas - what is the evidence?

    This report applies statistical modelling to the Integrated Dataset of Student Loan Scheme Borrowers. It provides interesting new information on the likelihood of a borrower being declared overseas five years post study across a variety of characteristics such as size of student loan leaving balance and level of study.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  May 2006


    2005 Tertiary Education Enrolments

    This release presents new information from the 2005 enrolment collections provided to the Ministry of Education by tertiary education providers. The return collects information on where students are studying, what qualifications they are taking, and other important characteristics of people undertaking tertiary education study programmes.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
    Date Published:  May 2006


    How do graduates' earnings change over time?

    This report looks at the post-study earnings of those who borrowed through the Student Loan Scheme. It looks at the earnings of people three years after they left study and again five years after they left study. The analysis provides new information on the extent of change in the earnings of graduates who studied at different qualification levels.

    Author:  Jamie Hyatt and Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  April 2006


    Walking in Step - Tertiary education providers and their stakeholders - a path to collaborative communication

    A key facts summary of the research study called Tertiary Education Providers and their Stakeholders. The research described in this note looks at how much contact there is between the tertiary education sector and its stakeholders and how good it is at producing results.

    Author:  Mieke Wensvoort
    Date Published:  April 2006


    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.

    Author:  Scott Ussher
    Date Published:  March 2006


    Statistical Tables for NZ's Tertiary Education Sector: Profile & Trends 2004

    These statistical tables support the information in New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Sector: Profile and Trends 2004.

    Author:  Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  December 2005


    What determines the research performance of staff in New Zealand’s tertiary education sector?

    This report applies statistical modelling to the results of the 2003 Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) Quality Evaluation. It provides interesting new information on the performance of PBRF-eligible staff across a variety of characteristics such as gender, ethnic group and position.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  November 2005


    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.

    Author:  David Scott and Warren Smart
    Date Published:  October 2005


    Student Loans Among Māori Students

    This latest in a series of factsheets on Māori in tertiary education provides information about student loans among Māori students. In addition, an earlier factsheet on Māori participation in tertiary education is now updated with 2004 enrolment data.

    Author:  Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  August 2005


    Who doesn't pay back - The characteristics of borrowers who make no progress in reducing their student loans

    This paper explores the characteristics of borrowers who have not made any progress in reducing their student loan balances. The paper complements a related paper, Paying off a student loan, which explores the progress to full repayment for Student Loan Scheme borrowers.

    Author:  Roger Smyth and Jamie Hyatt
    Date Published:  August 2005


    Māori in Tertiary Education

    This latest in a series of factsheets on Māori in tertiary education provides information about student loans among Māori students. In addition, an earlier factsheet on Māori participation in tertiary education is now updated with 2004 enrolment data.

    Author:  Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  August 2005


    Paying off a student loan - an analysis of progress to full repayment from the integrated dataset

    This report analyses the experience of Student Loan Scheme borrowers in repaying their student loans. This report complements a related paper, Who doesn’t pay back, that examines the characteristics of those who make no progress to repayment of their student loans.

    Author:  Jamie Hyatt
    Date Published:  August 2005


    An analysis of funding allocations for staff and research degree completions in the Performance-Based Research Fund

    Analysis showed that when the PBRF is fully implemented there will be significant funding attracted by high performing researchers for their TEOs.
    There is now a significant incentive for TEOs to ensure the successful completion of research graduates, with the majority of government funding for these students now tied to their successful completion.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  June 2005


    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.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  June 2005


    Research measures: comparing the new with the old

    Two historical measures of TEO research performance in the universities - total research outputs and external research income - were found to have a high degree of correlation with the PBRF quality scores.

    Author:  Warren Smart and Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  June 2005


    Research measures: comparing seven new measures of research performance in tertiary education

    A high degree of correlation was found between the various PBRF quality scores at the TEO level.

    Author:  Warren Smart and Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  June 2005


    The measurement of the research performance of Tertiary Education Organisations: An analysis of the impact of weightings in the Performance-Based Research Fund

    Analysis of the methodology used to assign quality categories in the 2003 quality evaluation found that the actual level of variation in the research performance of TEOs was less than was indicated in the published results, but reflects the outcomes sought from the PBRF policy.

    Author:  Warren Smart
    Date Published:  June 2005


    Income of Student Loan Scheme Borrowers

    This report provides new information on the impacts of the Student Loan Scheme by looking at the income of those who used the Scheme between 1997 and 2000. One of two analytical reports published using previously unavailable information from Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Dataset on Student Loan Scheme Borrowers.

    Author:  Jamie Hyatt, Paul Gini and Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  March 2005


    Student decision making by prospective tertiary students, a review of existing New Zealand and overseas literature

    This report reviews and synthesises research literature on decision-making by prospective students on whether, where and what to study at a tertiary level. The report is based on findings from New Zealand and overseas literature and will contribute to knowledge and understanding of the factors that influence student-decision making. It provides useful information for people who advise prospective students on their education and career choices.

    Author:  Linda Leach and Nick Zepke
    Date Published:  March 2005


    Retention, Completion and Progression in Tertiary Education in New Zealand

    This paper discusses the results of the first comprehensive longitudinal study of qualification retention, completion and progression in tertiary education in New Zealand. Of the cohort of domestic students who started a qualification at a public tertiary education provider in 1998, 40 percent had gained a qualification by the end of 2002, 9 percent were still studying, and 51 percent had left without gaining a qualification.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  March 2005


    Living with a student loan, a profile of student loan debt and repayment, post-study income and going overseas

    This report profiles student loan debt and repayment, post-study income and going overseas. One of two analytical reports using previously unavailable information from Statistics New Zealand's Integrated Dataset on Student Loan Scheme Borrowers.

    Author:  Fiona Griffin, David Scott and Roger Smyth
    Date Published:  March 2005


    Impact of Student Support Services and Academic Development Programmes on Student Outcomes in Undergraduate Tertiary Study: A Synthesis of the Research

    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.

    Author:  Tom Prebble, Helen Hargraves, Linda Leach, Kogi Naidoo, Gordon Suddaby and Nick Zepke
    Date Published:  March 2005


    Māori Economic Outcomes from Tertiary

    This latest in a series of factsheets on Māori in tertiary education provides information about student loans among Māori students. In addition, an earlier factsheet on Māori participation in tertiary education is now updated with 2004 enrolment data.

    Author:  Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  February 2005


    Hui Taumata 2005 - Māori in Tertiary Education: a Picture of the Trends

    This analysis of trends in Māori in tertiary education was commissioned for Hui Taumata 2005.

    Author:  Tertiary Sector Performance Analysis and Reporting, Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  January 2005


    Māori Student Retention, Completion and Progression in Tertiary Education

    This latest in a series of factsheets on Māori in tertiary education provides information about student loans among Māori students. In addition, an earlier factsheet on Māori participation in tertiary education is now updated with 2004 enrolment data.

    Author:  Ministry of Education
    Date Published:  August 2004


    Pathways in Tertiary Education 1998-2002

    Published July 2004. 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.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  June 2004


    Retention, Completion and Progression in Tertiary Education

    This report looks at trends in retention, completion, and progression in tertiary education up to 2002.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  March 2004


    Participation in Tertiary Education 2003

    The second of two annual reports looking at trends in participation in tertiary education. For future years the analysis included in this report was incorporated in Profile & Trends: New Zealand's Tertiary Education Sector.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  October 2003


    Comorbidity and Coincidence in the Christchurch and Dunedin Longitudinal Studies

    This report was prepared for the Ministries of Social Development and Education, and Treasury. It contains information from the Christchurch and Dunedin longitudinal studies on aspects of adolescent adjustment, and analyses to what extent these are associated.

    Author:  David Fergusson, Richie Poulton, John Horwood, Barry Milne & Nicola Swain-Campbell
    Date Published:  August 2003


    International Students Trends Reports

    Reports published by the Ministry of Education on the key trends in enrolments of foreign fee paying students in New Zealand

    Author:  International Division
    Date Published:  Various


    Participation in Tertiary Education 2002

    The first of two annual reports looking at trends in participation rates for formal students in tertiary education over the period 1994 to 2001. From 2004 onwards the analysis included in this report was incorporated in New Zealand's Tertiary Education Sector Report - Profile & Trends.

    Author:  David Scott
    Date Published:  August 2002


    Pacific Peoples and Tertiary Education: Issues of Participation

    This research focused on the participation patterns of Pacific students in tertiary education and barriers to their participation. It has three parts: a literature review on the experiences of Pacific tertiary students; analysis of national data and information from tertiary education providers on their strategies for recruiting and retaining Pacific students; and interview-based information on the experiences of participants and those who didn't complete their studies or take part at all in tertiary education.

    Author:  Melani Anae, Helen Anderson, John Benseman and Eve Coxon
    Date Published:  February 2002


    Mapping the Building of Capacity and Capability within the Educational Research Community

    This research project focuses on the educational research capacity and capability of the educational community in New Zealand. Commissioned by the Ministry of Education, the study was conducted by a joint team from the Universities of Auckland and Massey. The study involved 15 higher education institutions (universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, whare wananga) who offered postgraduate level education programmes or were located in population areas where Māori and Pacific nations people live.

    Author:  Auckland UniServices Limited
    Date Published:  2001


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