More degrees

Steven Joyce announced last week:

A total of 43,700 domestic students completed bachelors degrees or higher qualifications in 2012, with bachelors degrees accounting for more than half of that total.

The number of domestic students who completed a bachelors degree in 2012 is the highest ever at 25,400, up 4,790 since 2010 – an increase of 23 per cent.

“Right through the 2000s the number of degree graduates flat-lined, despite big increases in tertiary funding by the previous government.  This Government’s focus on performance and not just bums on seats, has led to much better results for students and taxpayers,” Mr Joyce says.

A 23% increase in two years is significant.

• The participation rate of Māori aged 18-24 years in bachelors and higher qualifications increased from 11 per cent in 2011 to 12 per cent in 2012

• The participation rate of Pasifika aged 18-24 years in bachelors and higher qualifications increased from 14 per cent in 2011 to 15 per cent in 2012

• The proportion of people aged 15 years and over with a bachelors degree or higher qualification increased from 11 per cent in 2002 to 18 per cent in 2012.

• The proportion of industry trainees gaining between 40 and 59 credits increased to 13 per cent in 2012, up from 8.3 per cent in 2008.

The full reports is here.