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Steady Progress at UCOL

By UCOL on Monday, 08 October 2018

A photograph of UCOL graduates enjoying the parade in Palmerston North

UCOL has performed consistently in 2018, with indicators such as educational performance, student numbers, and financial performance all looking positive, despite a tough environment. 

UCOL Chief Executive Dr Lynn said “There are a steady number of students choosing to study at UCOL in 2018.  In 2017 there were 6,000 students studying at UCOL by the end of the year, and we are tracking close to that number this year.  Students are also doing well with their studies.”

“We have had a record number of applications for enrolment this year, reaching 10,000 in August which is 2,000 more applications compared to the last three years.  This is unprecedented and already we have had strong interest in enrolments for 2019, which are ahead of the same time last year.  We take nothing for granted, but our focus is on steady progress.”

International student numbers are continuing to grow in a climate where other education institutes are experiencing a decline in numbers.  Students from China and India continue to make up the majority of overseas students at UCOL amongst a diverse student population from 53 different countries.   “This year we have developed stronger connections with Institutes in China and Vietnam, and are looking at the longer term to gain greater synergies from these” said Dr Lynn. 

UCOL is predicting a small financial surplus in 2018, following a small operating surplus in 2017.  

New programmes continue to be developed in response to employers’ needs, with eight new majors within the UCOL Bachelor of Information and Communications set to take off in 2019.

“We value the communities we work with and the important role we play in making quality jobs a reality for all of the people in our regions.”

“We are taking care to manage UCOL through Roadmap 2020 and we are optimistic for the future” said Dr Lynn.  Roadmap 2020 is a government initiative looking at ways to secure a sustainable future for New Zealand’s Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics.  

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