Summary

Highlights

• In 2006, there were 491,000 students enrolled in formal tertiary study¹ at tertiary education providers.
• For the first time in 7 years, the balance in domestic enrolments shifted from lower to higher level qualifications.
• In 2005, 32 percent of domestic enrolments were in level 1 to 3 certificates. In 2006, this fell to 28 percent. The shift in balance was a result of government moves to give greater recognition to the value of higher level qualifications. Consequently, the number of domestic students fell by 1.9 percent from 2005 to 2006.
• The number of international students fell in 2006 by 10.0 percent, following a decline in 2005 of 6.1 percent.
• International enrolments in doctoral studies increased by 56 percent from 2005 to 2006. These are now funded on the same basis as domestic doctoral studies.
• There were 82,800 learners enrolled in formal short courses in 2006, down by 48 percent on 2005, while those in non-formal tertiary education fell by 42 percent from 2005. These declines reflect a more targeted approach to the funding of adult and community education, and a greater emphasis in government priorities on quality and relevance in the case of short courses.

Enrolments Overview

Formal enrolments fell by 2.7 percent on the previous year to a total of 491,000. In contrast, enrolments have increased over the previous 6 years by 7.9 percent, on average, per year. International enrolments contributed strongly to this growth in recent years.

From 2005 to 2006, the number of domestic enrolments fell by 1.9 percent (or 8,700 enrolments) and international enrolments fell for the second consecutive year by 10.0 percent (or 4,720 enrolments), following a 6.1 percent fall in 2005.

In 2006, the number of domestic enrolments totalled 448,000 and international enrolments numbered 42,700.The decline in provider-based enrolments also needs to be seen against another significant rise in workplace learning in 2006. The number of learners in industry training went up by 5.3 percent from 2005 to 2006.

As at 31 December 2006 there were 124,000 trainees (including modern apprentices). More detailed information on work-based learners will come available later this year.

Shift from lower to higher level qualifications

The enrolments at levels 1 to 3 of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications have declined for the first time in many years. The number of students enrolled in level 1 to 3 certificates decreased from 238,000 in 2005 to 215,000 in 2006. Enrolments at this level have grown strongly in recent years driving up total formal enrolments. From 2000 to 2005, total enrolments averaged an increase of 7.9 percent per year and by 2005 participation in some form of formal tertiary education increased to 14 percent of New Zealanders (aged 15 years and over). The latest fall in domestic enrolments was driven by the decline in level 1 to 3 certificates reflecting the emphasis the government has been placing on getting more people into higher level (and consequently, higher value) qualifications. The 2005 reviews of sub-degree qualifications, and the review of the provision at private training establishments, investigated the quality, relevance and value for money of these provisions and this has led to the significant decrease in lower level enrolments in 2006. The government's new tertiary education strategy, released in 2006, carries forward this emphasis on qualifications at levels 4 and above. At the same time, there has been another significant rise in the number participating in industry training – active trainees (including modern apprentices) as at 31 December 2006 rose by 5.3% on the previous year to 124,000.

Figure 1: Percentage of student enrolments and equivalent full-time students in level 1 to 3 certificate qualifications

More people studied in vocationally oriented qualifications in 2006. Level 4 certificates increased by 11 percent from 53,800 enrolments in 2005 to 59,700 enrolments in 2006. Study in level 5 to 7 diplomas rose by 4.3 percent to 71,700 enrolments, from 2005 to 2006. This provision fell slightly, however, when counted in equivalent full-time students due to a fall in people studying a full-year and increases in part-year and part-time study.

Bachelors-level study declined for the second consecutive year in 2006, falling by 3.0 percent on the previous year to 149,000 enrolments. The decline was due mainly to the fall in international enrolments, while domestic bachelors-level enrolments fell by only 0.9 percent.

Participation in level 8 honours and postgraduate certificates and diplomas remained virtually unchanged from 2005 to 2006. There were 17,900 enrolments in level 8 qualifications in 2006. In terms of equivalent full-time students this provision increased by 2.9 percent.

In 2006, fewer people studied at masters level although the number participating in doctoral studies increased. Study at masters fell by 5.9 percent to 12,400 enrolments from 2005 to 2006, while doctoral study increased over the same period by 13 percent to 5,470 enrolments.

Equivalent full-time student count

When the enrolments were converted into equivalent full-time students units, the decline was 4.8 percent from 284,000 in 2005 to 270,000 in 2006. This fall was the result of decreases both in domestic and international enrolments. The domestic count decreased by 7,980 equivalent full-time units (down by 3.2 percent) and the international count was 5,660 units, or 15 percent, lower compared to 2005.

Seventy-one percent of the decrease in equivalent full-time students was due to fewer students enrolling in level 1 to 3 certificates. There were 23,800 fewer enrolments in level 1 to 3 in 2006, and this converted to a 15 percent fall in equivalent full-time students. While the decline in international equivalent full-time students accounted for only 16 percent of the fall in level 1 to 3 certificates, they contributed 85 percent of the decline at bachelors level. In terms of equivalent full-time student units, study at bachelors-level by domestic students declined by 0.6 percent in 2006, while for international students this declined by 15 percent. There were 4,520 fewer bachelors enrolments in 2006 and 3,320 of these were attributable to the decline in international enrolments.

There were 7.7 percent fewer equivalent full-time students at masters level in 2006 and there were also fewer equivalent full-time students in level 5 to 7 diplomas (down by 1.2 percent).

Funding for formal short courses was capped in 2006. In terms of equivalent full-time students these fell by 38 percent to 3,350 (or 82,800 enrolments).

In contrast, equivalent full-time student units rose from 2005 to 2006 by 15 percent for doctorates and by 8.3 percent for level 4 certificates. International doctoral enrolments also increased, by 56 percent, as these are now funded on the same basis as domestic doctoral studies.The proportion of students studying full-time fell slightly from 2005 to 2006, from 49 percent to 48 percent. This partly reflected the decline in international students, who are more likely to study full-time than domestic students. Around 65 percent of full-time students studied for a full academic year, while 43 percent of part-time students studied for a full year. The proportion of students studying part-time has increased in recent years, from 45 percent in 1999 to 52 percent in 2006.

Certificate enrolments down across all provider types

The largest fall in level 1 to 3 certificates in terms of equivalent full-time students was at the institutes of technology and polytechnics. From 2005 to 2006, this number fell by 5,950 units (or 15 percent) to 33,000 equivalent full-time students. The number of equivalent full-time students also fell at wānanga by 4,200 (or 25 percent) to 12,300, at universities by 1,200 (or 26 percent) to 2,900 and at private training establishments by 587 (or 2.6 percent) to 21,600. In terms of the number of people studying in level 1 to 3 certificates, the largest fall in 2006 was at wānanga (down by 12,400 enrolments) followed by polytechnics (down by 6,200).

The second largest fall in formal enrolments occurred at bachelors level in 2006, due mainly to a fall in international enrolments. There were 3,500 fewer bachelors enrolments at universities and when converted to equivalent full-time students units these fell by 2.9 percent from 97,300 to 94,500. Bachelors-level enrolments also fell at other public tertiary education providers, while at private training establishments these increased by 7.6 percent to 1,500.

Another shift took place from 2005 to 2006 at masters level where enrolments fell by 5.9 percent. In terms of equivalent full-time students, these fell by 7.7 percent in 2006. About two-thirds of the decline was due to fewer domestic students enrolling at masters level.In 2006, more people who studied in level 4 certificates did so at polytechnics and private training establishments, while in wānanga these enrolments fell by 13 percent.

Agricultural, environmental and related study rises

The number of students enrolled in 'agricultural, environmental and related studies' has increased significantly in recent years. In 2006, enrolments in this field rose by 32 percent and in the two previous years, they increased by 50 percent in 2005 and by 21 percent in 2004. 'Agricultural and environmental studies' now rank in the top six fields of study. The rise in 2006 was partly due to the introduction of a small number of new courses of relatively short duration.

While more people studied in the field of 'agriculture' than in 'health' in 2006, when these numbers were converted to equivalent full-time students units then 'agricultural, environmental and related studies' ranked considerably lower, in 9 th place, while 'health' ranked 4 th. This reflects the fact that there was a significant increase in agricultural enrolments in level 1 to 4 certificates that was driven by short courses. Study in the field of 'management and commerce' was most common followed by 'society and culture' and 'mixed field programmes' in second and third place, respectively. In the table below the 2006 formal student count has been listed by field of study.²

In 2006, 'architecture and building' and 'food, hospitality and personal services' also recorded significant increases in the number of people studying in these fields. On the other hand, there were considerable declines in 2006 of the number of people studying 'mixed field programmes,' 'management and commerce,' 'information technology' and 'health.'

Figure 2: Top six fields of study in 2006 for all students enrolled in formal tertiary education qualifications¹

Proportionally more male students

The overall decline in enrolments in 2006 was mainly attributable to a fall in enrolments by female students. An important factor contributing to the fall in female enrolments was the decline in level 1 to 3 certificates at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. There were 12,500 fewer female students enrolled in 2006 compared to 2005, while the number of male students fell by only 918. Consequently, the proportion of male students enrolled in formal study programmes in 2006 increased for the second consecutive year and this was mainly due to male students being more likely to enrol in short courses. Seventy percent of the latest increase in level 4 certificates was attributable to enrolments in short agricultural courses. The proportion of male students rose from 45 percent to 46 percent in 2006. However, when the enrolments were converted to equivalent full-time students, the proportion of male was much more stable. For the last five years male students comprised 43 percent of the total student population enrolled in formal study programmes.

Falling international student numbers

From a peak of 50,500 enrolments in 2004, the number of international students has declined over the last two years to 42,700 enrolments in 2006.

In 2006, 8.7 percent of students undertaking tertiary education studies in New Zealand were from overseas. Of these, 70 percent were from Asia and almost 90 percent of the latest fall in international enrolments was attributable to a decline in the number of Asian students. In contrast, international doctorates increased by 56 percent from 2005 to 2006 as these enrolments are now funded on the same basis as domestic doctoral studies.

Over 60 percent of international students studied at bachelors or higher qualification levels in 2006. Twenty-five percent studied diplomas at level 5 to 7 , while the remainder was enrolled in level 1 to 4 certificate courses.The top three fields of study for international students in 2006 were 'management and commerce', 'society and law' and 'mixed field programmes.' Over 70 percent of overseas students were studying in these three fields in 2006. There were also 6,600 international students that followed non-formal educational programmes in New Zealand .

Ethnic groups

The latest fall in enrolments caused a significant decrease in the number of students in the Māori and Asian ethnic groups. From 2005 to 2006, Māori participation in tertiary study declined by 5.5 percent while the number of Asian students fell by 6.6 percent. Almost 90 percent of the decrease in Māori enrolments was in level 1 to 3 certificates, especially in response to the drop in enrolments at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, while just over 70 percent of the decrease in the Asian ethnic group was due to the fall in the number of international students. Domestic enrolments in level 1 to 3 certificates fell by 23 percent (or 6,800 enrolments) for the Asian ethnic group³ from 2005 to 2006.There were 3.6 percent fewer Pasifika students in 2006, while the number of Europeans undertaking tertiary study remained stable compared to 2005.

Footnotes

1. Students enrolled at any time during the year with a tertiary education provider in formal qualifications of greater than 0.03 EFTS (more than one week's duration). See definition on page 5 for an explanation of EFTS. The enrolment collections do not include information on formal learning in the workplace.
2. As students can be counted in more than one field the total count does not match the sum of the table components.
3. As students can be counted in more than one ethnic group the total count does not match the sum of the table components.