Introduction

Individuals invest in tertiary education on the promise of a better life. Governments invest in tertiary education for a stronger economy and a better society. Businesses invest too – for their own economic success, and for wider economic and social reasons.

It’s a big investment from a lot of people. Between 6 and 7 billion dollars each year from public and private sources, nearly 2% of New Zealand’s GDP. An individual will, on average, invest around $25,000 to get a bachelor’s degree, and the government will invest between two and three times that. Every year over 450,000 New Zealanders choose to invest in some form of tertiary education, and 2.4 million New Zealanders already hold some form of tertiary qualification from that investment.

Better chances of employment, a better income, and a better life that goes with that, a stronger productive, adaptive and innovative economy, and a thriving and progressive society. The role of tertiary education in this is hardly disputed. But tertiary education is a broad and diverse system. It covers everything in education and training that happens after schooling – at any level. Making decisions about what, when, where, how, and how much tertiary education to invest in is not clear, and is often disputed.

This report reviews the body of New Zealand research on the impacts and benefits of tertiary education in New Zealand. Over 170 published pieces are reviewed covering the New Zealand evidence over the last 30 years. It aims to provide a reference resource for policy makers, researchers and others with an interest in this area.