Growth at Ara Timaru exceeds national trend
Enrolment numbers are up 33.2% on the same time last year at Timaru’s Ara Institute of Canterbury, as students return for a new semester.
The numbers also exceed the national trend, with the number of equivalent fulltime student enrolments for campus-based and online divisions of the training sector up 7.4%.
Throughout the country there has also been a significant rise in international student enrolments, of 71% year-on-year.
Ara Institute of Canterbury director southern campuses Leonie Rasmussen said it was pleasing to note that the wide range of courses offered in Timaru were doing well.
“Nursing has continued its strong growth, and with two start dates this year, that trend is likely to continue,’’ Rasmussen said.
“Demand is also high for te reo Māori, engineering, pathway courses into trades and service industry qualifications.’’
She believed the reason for the strong enrolment numbers was that ākonga (students) and their whānau felt welcome and supported at the Timaru campus.
“We believe these efforts, as well as the opportunities we provide to experience Ara through taster experiences, are playing into these numbers.’’
Rasmussen said the campus’s new trades workshop build was on target to be delivered in the coming months.
“2024 is shaping up to be an exciting year for us,” she said.
Te Pūkenga Tumuaki chief executive Gus Gilmore said enrolment days and open days gave prospective learners the opportunity to get to know more about the wide range of courses available locally, meet teaching kaimahi (staff), tour learning facilities, and seek face-to-face assistance with progressing an application.
“We know learners want to connect in person on campus to find out more about how learning can fit around their lives and the lives of their whānau,” Gilmore said.
Semester one ākonga and kaimahi were officially welcomed on to the Ara Timaru campus yesterday morning with a whakatau (ceremony).