UCOL enrolments on the rise
Enrolments at Palmerston North polytechnic UCOL are up compared with a year ago.
UCOL’S acting chief executive Linda Sissons confirmed at its board meeting on Thursday enrolments for next year were more than 8 per cent ahead of the same time last year.
As at November 5, UCOL had 3080 full-time equivalent students, which was 90 per cent of what it budgeted for.
For next year there are so far 882 full-time equivalent students enrolled, which is 31 per cent of the expected student body.
‘‘We’re doing a lot more targeted marketing and looking at the sorts of people who have been affected by Covid-19 with whom the repercussions are just starting to become real, particularly women,’’ Sissons said.
‘‘We’re working hard seeing good results. We’re delighted to be assisting employers in our region as we move forward with plans for next year.’’
Marketing programmes include an emphasis on training and apprenticeship fund enrolments, which are fees free, and an early bird offering on other programmes where enrolments until December 31 are available at this year’s cost.
Sissons’ report said schemes to attract women, young people and Māori were under way.
UCOL started earlier this year offering career weeks at Taratahi Agriculture Training Centre in Wairarapa.
Taratahi went into liquidation at the end of 2018, but UCOL, along with the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rangitāne are providing training at the facility.
‘‘As of now, 165 students have gone through the Taratahi tasters. Some are now in jobs.
We’re certainly looking forward to doing more work in that area.’’
Sissons, in her report, said the liquidator was told of the Ministry of Primary Industries’ offer of a rollover of the temporary Taratahi lease until June.
She said momentum has grown for the taster courses and longer courses, so UCOL could offer other such opportunities.
‘‘[The ministry] have signalled that they will continue to fund additional taster courses that align with government priorities for the primary sector.’’ UCOL announced a surplus of $6.1 million for the period ended October 31 and is ahead of budget by $7.1m.
Chief financial officer Brian Trott said UCOL was in a good position compared with other institutions.
The surplus is due to revenue being $3.6m ahead of budget and expenses $3.5m behind budget.