Uni culture mix grows

The make-up of New Zealand's university graduate population is changing, with more international graduates and greater ethnic diversity, a report shows.

The University Graduate Destinations study looks at outcomes for the 28,973 people who became eligible to graduate from one of the country's eight universities in 2003.

Of the 28,973 people, 3437 were classified as international graduates, in that they required a permit to study in this country.

According to the survey, the ethnic make up of the graduate population is seeing some shifts, with only 60.8 per cent now identifying themselves as European/Pakeha, down from 64.6 per cent in 2002.

The proportion identifying themselves as Asian has grown to 19.4 per cent, up 2.4 per cent on 2002.

Other ethnicities - NZ Maori, Pacific and Indian - remain stable at 5.6 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 2.1 per cent respectively. Some growth has occurred in the "other" category, which is up 2 per cent on 2002.

The report shows most graduates (50.1 per cent) are in the 18-24 age group, with a further 18.5 per cent in the 25-29 age group. People aged 50 years or older account for 5 per cent of graduates.

Of the 3437 international graduates, 42.9 per cent are from China, almost double the proportion recorded in the previous survey.

Almost half of all international graduates studied commerce or business.

While information on the total survey population is based on student records supplied by the universities, other content comes from 10,844 student responses (10,136 New Zealand, 708 international) to the survey questionnaire.

These responses show that six months after graduation, 62.4 per cent of New Zealand respondents were in full-time employment, with 19.6 per cent undertaking further full-time study. A total of 586 New Zealand respondents were recorded as being overseas, up 20 on the previous survey.

New Zealand respondents in full-time employment who supplied salary details had average salaries of $50,388 (males) and $42,112 (females), up $1172 and $472 respectively from the previous survey.

Of the 708 international respondents, 347 were working full-time, more than half of them (59.1 per cent) in this country. Another 18.1 per cent were working part-time, and 29.8 per cent of international respondents were not employed.

Melting pot

University graduates by ethnicity ( per cent)
* European/Pakeha 60.8
* Asian 19.4Maori 5.6
* Pacific Island 2.4
* Indian 2.1

- NZPA