EIT continues to perform strongly in attracting students, recording a solid growth in overall enrolments and its highest-ever number of international students. 

Chief executive Chris Collins says the boost in this year’s roll has come on the back of increased school leaver numbers in the institute’s first semester intake.

“Year-to-date, we have had about an overall 10 percent lift in school leavers (about 60 more equivalent full-time students) over 2017 numbers, making up about 410 EFTS who are taking advantage of the Government’s one year of fees-free policy.”

First-semester demand was particularly strong for degree-level offerings, and Collins says that trend has continued into semester two. 

“There has also been solid demand in the level four New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation, which is designed as a pathway into higher-level programmes – particularly degree programmes.”

EIT’s international recruitment efforts are also reaping good results.  Numbers are outstripping last year’s figures and this year’s planned targets, with growth primarily centred on graduate and postgraduate programmes.

The good news continues for EIT in results from an independently conducted student satisfaction survey commissioned by the institute.

Asked about their experience of EIT, 86 percent of 1237 students who started study in semester one scored it highly for overall satisfaction and for living up to their expectations.

The students surveyed were enrolled on the Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Auckland campuses as well as the institute’s regional learning centres.