Strong domestic enrolments for NMIT programmes

There are currently 4041 new enrolments for domestic students in 2021 compared to 3299 in March 2020, an increase of 22 per cent. These enrolments contribute to a domestic Equivalent Full-time Student (EFTS) total of 1842.59 compared to 1535.46 at week 13 last year – an increase of 20 per cent.

Chief Executive Wayne Jackson says the demand ranges across all programmes, including engineering and construction, hospitality and service sector, maritime, aquaculture, conservation, and many other areas.

“There has especially been an increasing interest and demand for enrolments in trade-focussed programmes - fuelled by the demand for new housing, and an appreciation of the opportunities afforded by a trades career pathway.”

A lift in figures for new apprenticeships and vocational students can also be attributed to the introduction of the Government’s Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) in July 2020 which aims to redirect people who may have lost their job due to COVID-19 to a trade’s apprenticeship. Since July 2020 NMIT has had 1054 TTAF learners with more intakes coming.

The growth in student numbers is of benefit to Te Tauihu at a time when international tourism has been hit hard, and skills shortages have been identified in a number of the regions key driver industries.

“We are experiencing growth across all our campuses – Marlborough, Nelson and Richmond - which is good news for the organisation and for the region,” says Jackson.

He says the rise in domestic enrolments has certainly helped mitigate the reduced international market which has obviously been affected by the COVID-19.

“Despite the closed border, NMIT has been delighted to welcome the enrolment of 51 new international students in 2021. These students join 229 existing international students who have continued their studies with NMIT this year,” he says.

The new international students are a mix of individuals already residing in New Zealand and some international students commencing their studies online from their home country.

NMIT was the first institute of technology to receive New Zealand Qualifications Authority approval to deliver a suite of programmes online to students offshore, and since that time it has innovated quickly to provide high quality online learning delivered to students throughout the world.