Ucol Te Pū kenga enrolments soar
With borders fully open again, number of foreign students double that of last year
Whanganui Ucol Te Pū kenga campus welcomed one of the intakes for 2024 on Monday, with a pōwhiri led by kaumā tua John Maihi at Moutoa Gardens, also known as Pākaitore.
“I would like to congratulate those who are starting their journey into adult learning, a decision to better your lives,” Whanganui District Mayor Andrew Tripe said.
He welcomed the students, sharing with them three Māori proverbs.
One was “Adorn the bird with feathers so I may soar — the more strength you have, the higher you will fly”.
With an increase in domestic ākonga (learners) and international ākonga doubling from this time last year, enrolments are on the rise at Ucol Te Pūkenga.
Jasmine Groves, executive director of partnerships and engagement, attributes this success to the institution’s long-standing reputation, a changing job market, and more seeking education post pandemic.
“Ucol has been part of our communities for over 130 years. People choose to study here because they know we’ll look after them and open the door to industries that are now booming and eager for their skills.”
With the borders now well and truly open again, Ucol has also reported its international ā konga intake has more than doubled from last year.
“International ākonga bring added diversity to our campuses and expose fellow ākonga to different cultures and experiences.
“For the local communities, there are also huge economic and social benefits too.”
Ucol provides programmes and pathways into education for people leaving school, changing careers or those who may be the first in their family to study. Groves said the variety of pathways had proved popular with people looking to further their education.
“Our Trades Academy, which is done in partnership with schools, has more than 1000 secondary school ākonga enrolled across our four campuses. Our Youth Guarantee programme has also seen a 26 per cent increase and the demand in some of our courses, such as hairdressing in Whanganui, and automotive and electrical engineering in Wairarapa, means classes have been capped for semester one already. ”
Ucol is also adding several new, diverse programmes this year. The first cohort of Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) will be
delivered in Whanganui. Manawatū will offer an Entertainment and Event Technology programme, and Ucol was extending delivery of te reo Māori to support increasing demand.
“We’re also the first tertiary institute in . . . to offer not one but two Rainbow Scholarships, in partnership with Think Hauora and Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral.”
After launching the Tuakana Teina mentorship programme last year in Whanganui, Groves said the programme had been extremely successful among ākonga Māori.
“This programme has allowed us to connect more-experienced ā konga Māori and tuakana (graduates) with less-experienced ākonga Māori (teina) for academic and personal support.|
It had been good to see ākonga who might be struggling with courses or having personal issues, able to feel comfortable talking to someone they trust through this programme.”
For ā konga looking to study closer to home, Groves says having campuses in Palmerston North, Whanganui, Masterton and Levin makes balancing study with other commitments easier.
“We understand one size doesn’t fit all and we’re excited to be able to offer the range of options that we do, including full and part-time study, in class, online and in work. Ucol is growing, our enrolments prove that and we will continue to grow with our ā konga. We’re focused on making the transition from education to the workforce as easy as possible and we’re hearing first hand from graduates what a difference that makes.”
Enrolments for many courses are open now, with details available on the Ucol website: ucol.ac.nz