Commission puts UCOL top of the class

POSITIVE: Paul McElroy says teaching team support and the enhancement of learning experiences for students had contributed to some sector-leading performances for the organisation. PHOTO/FILE

Enrolments and graduations for some courses at UCOL Wairarapa stack up alongside the best in the polytechnic sector nationwide.

UCOL chief executive Paul McElroy said the latest Tertiary Education Commission figures shows UCOL enrolments were "the strongest in the country amongst polytechnics, and the number of students successfully completing courses continues to increase".

UCOL had achieved almost 84 per cent of its government-funded student allocation for the year, he said, which according to the TEC data to April this year was the greatest of 18 polytechnics in the country.

The rate of UCOL course completions for Maori students had also increased, and course completion performance was "improving at a faster rate than other polytechnics", according to the TEC tables.

Course completion rates at UCOL Wairarapa were likewise "very good in many programmes", a spokeswoman said.

The Bachelor of Nursing classes at the Masterton campus had an "outstanding" course completion rate of 90 per cent, she said, and enrolment numbers for the programme had risen to 103 this year from 82 in 2012.

"Staff, friends and family, and community partners play a part in the success of students at Wairarapa UCOL. Students are often a working force within the community even before they graduate, and we are grateful to local businesses for continuing to provide work experience opportunities and contribute to student learning."

UCOL Chief Executive Paul McElroy said the mounting number of enrolments and course completions was "a tremendous result given that this doesn't include mid-year enrolments".

He said the "positive trends" were due to the UCOL focus on "supporting teaching teams and enhancing students' learning experiences".

"A priority is enhancing students' learning experiences, particularly for Maori students, to improve participation and completion outcomes," he said.

"We have developed an ambitious relationship-based programme based on Te Kotahitanga, focused on creating an extended, family-like, classroom context, looking at teaching practices, setting goals, listening to student voices and working together for student success. Positive changes can be seen already and we expect to see more improvements in overall success for all students."

"In terms of enrolments, we are tracking very well to meet our Investment Plan commitments for the year, and our Youth Guarantee and Trades Academy places are already overflowing."

UCOL also succeeded in other areas measured by the TEC, he said, including increased rate of student retention and of students progressing to higher-level study and qualifications.