Profile & Trends 2008: New Zealand's Tertiary Education Sector

Level 1 to 3 provider-based qualifications

In 2008, enrolments in level 1 to 3 qualifications represented 23   percent of all equivalent full-time student units in formal provider-based   tertiary education. 

Level 1 to 3 qualifications cover provision funded in a range of ways. Most provision at these levels is funded through the student   achievement component and includes enrolments in level 1 to 3 certificate courses at polytechnics, wānanga and private training establishments. These courses can be divided into those that cover   vocational certificates, which focus on work-related skills, and foundation certificates, which focus on general skills, literacy and language. For people who are disadvantaged in the labour market, the government provides targeted training programmes through Training Opportunities and Youth Training. In addition, schools  purchase courses at levels 1 to 3 from tertiary education providers through the Secondary-Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR). Not many international students study at this level. 

Enrolments in provider-based level 1 to 3 certificates have continued to decrease since 2005. The number of students in vocational certificates decreased from 2007 to 2008 by 12 percent and in foundation certificates by 14 percent. Over the same period, the number of students in Youth Training decreased by 2.8 percent. Contrary to this trend, the number of students in Training Opportunities increased by   3.1 percent from 2007 to 2008. 

The decreases in certificate-level enrolments reflect the continued effects of policy and funding changes introduced in 2005 as well as improvements in the labour market in the period up to the middle of 2008. This was before the employment effects of the current recession had begun to be felt. Most people enrolled in level 1 to 3 certificates were already in employment and the strong labour market at that   time made work more attractive than continuing in study. This is also evident in the decreasing retention, completion and progression rates   for students in level 1 to 3 certificates. The decrease in Youth Training   numbers is also due to tighter restrictions on gaining exemptions from school, which can be seen most clearly in the reduced number   of under-16-year-olds on the programme. 

The decreased participation has also been the result of the full implementation of reviews of quality and relevance of provision at   this level, as described in the 2006 edition of Profile & Trends. This has had an impact on the number of students in foundation certificates and in courses of less than one week. The outcomes of these reviews were carried through into the agreements made for the 2008 to 2011   investment plans of tertiary education organisations.

Figure 1.5: Students in level 1 to 3 provider-based qualifications