Student enrolments register a healthy rise in Hamilton, Rotorua

Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, March 18, 2024

In the past few years, international university enrolments in New Zealand and around the globe have taken a hit as travel restrictions, visa delays, uncertainties and safety issues led international students to reconsider their plans.

The inability to visit campuses for tours or attend in-person recruitment events further complicated the decision-making process by students, also leading to a decline in international enrolments.

The University of Waikato has seen an increase in student numbers since the start of the 2024 academic year, bringing a respite to the education sector.

Overall, student numbers are up more than 6%, with the Education Ministry-Funded Equivalent Full-Time Students (EFTS) growing over 3% in Hamilton and more than 6% in Tauranga. International student numbers are 25% higher than the same time last year, albeit remaining below pre-pandemic levels.

Postgraduate numbers are up 16% on last year and school leaver numbers have remained relatively stable despite a smaller cohort of Year 13 students achieving University Entrance.

“Students transferring from elsewhere in the tertiary sector is up by 19% over 2023 and there is a stronger pipeline of returning students with the volume up from last year,” Waikato University Vice-Chancellor Professor Neil Quigley said.

Focus on quality education

According to him, a Trimester is off to a strong start, largely because of its base of facilities and programmes, and a solid pipeline of enrolments that provide a strong foundation for future growth.

“The demand for healthcare professionals is driving enrolment growth, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead, especially with the prospect of a new Waikato Medical School. We have had notable enrolment increases for the Bachelor of Nursing and Master of Nursing Practice qualifications,” Professor Quigley said.

Waikato’s Law and Psychology Programmes are also experiencing growth and its Total Immersion Māori Language Programme, Te Tohu Paetahi, continues to see strong growth, with an overall 20% increase in students enrolling for the year ahead.

“The positive enrolment numbers reflect the dedication of our staff and the quality of education that we provide. We are excited about the future and the impact our University will continue to have on the lives of students and the community,” Professor Quigley said.

However, the University continues to operate in a highly constrained environment, with many costs escalating far faster than the University’s income, and an ongoing need to improve the efficiency of our operations wherever opportunities are identified, he said.

Rotorua gains momentum

International student numbers at Toi Ohomai i Te Pūkenga in Rotorua are expected to increase by 30% on last year.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell welcomed students at the Council Chambers on February 22, 2024.

“It is a pleasure to welcome international students to our city and it is exciting to see an increasing number of students choose Rotorua as their destination to study. Students have often come from countries that are not as safe or secure as ours and they appreciate the opportunities here. It is wonderful to be involved in welcoming students to Rotorua and showcasing the hospitality for which our city is well known,” she said.

Cultural Diversity

International Services Manager Ada Chen said that more than 200 international students are starting their tertiary education journey in Rotorua and Tauranga as part of the February 2024 intake.

“It is great to be able to return to Rotorua Lakes Council for this year’s Mayoral welcome. This ceremony makes our new members feel very special during their orientation week.

“They add value to the learning environment and the community, enabling cultural diversity and competency as well as bringing much-needed skills and ideas,” she said.

This intake is made up of students from 32 different countries including China, France, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

“Rotorua has always been a popular place for international students. We are seeing increasing numbers of international applications, which is growing post-Covid. We expect a 30% growth of international student enrolments in 2024 compared with 2023 numbers,” Ms Chen said.

Accounting, Applied Professional Studies, Agriculture, Business, Culinary Art, English, Early Childhood Education, Health, Hospitality, Management, Nursing, Tourism and Masters Qualifications are among the popular courses in the Rotorua Campus.

Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.