Enrolments lagging behind for new polytech

It has been a slow start to the year for Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology with student enrolments tracking slightly behind previous years.

But the polytechnic's chief executive, Dr Leon Fourie, says the overall indications are 2017 enrolments will be similar to the last three years.

Figures provided to the Rotorua Daily Post show Toi Ohomai has 2025 equivalent full time students enrolled, down 135 from this time last year.

"Here at Mokoia [campus in Rotorua], we are also experiencing changing patterns of enrolments with more enrolments at levels 3-9 and less enrolments at level 1-2.

"Given these changes, there has been a delay in some enrolments being processed and therefore we are slightly below 2016's enrolment numbers at this time. However we expect to recover this ground as people return from holidays before semester one starts," Dr Fourie said.

The Bachelor of Nursing continues to be the most popular qualification at the Mokoia Campus, while the least popular qualification is the New Zealand Diploma in Forest Management (Level 6).

"We attribute this to the fact that many are not aware of the high demand and wide ranging job opportunities available in this area. As a result, most graduates of this qualification are quickly snapped up," Dr Fourie said.

Other tertiary providers in Rotorua said they were on track to reach their forecasted enrolment figures.

Te Wananga o Aotearoa Takiwa director - Hoe Whakatere Jocelyn Mikaere said the Waiariki campus and other central North Island campuses were seeing good enrolment figures.

"We are tracking slightly ahead of where we were at this same time last year so we are quite pleased with our progress.

"Our te reo Maori courses are ticking over nicely and we are confident we will fill our spaces."

She said she was finding there was "certainly interest in Rotorua for tertiary education".

"We have a mix of school leavers, second-chance learners and people looking to upskill so I'd definitely say there is a place for tertiary education and the range of providers in Rotorua."

Avonmore Tertiary Institute Rotorua and Tauranga campus manager Jason Bianchi said his enrolments were tracking well in Rotorua, but there was room for more.

"It hasn't been too bad but there is still two weeks to go so we're hoping for a bit more of a push.

"We started in August and it has been rocky but 2017 is going to be the year that's about growth and expansion so by 2019 we will be providing courses for Levels 5, 6, and 7."

A spokeswoman at the New Zealand School of Tourism Rotorua campus declined to comment.