Polytech gains as jobs dry up

Aoraki Polytechnic is playing down its near 10 per cent increase in equivalent fulltime students (EFTS) from this time last year.

The polytechnic has seen fulltime student numbers increase from 620 at the end of February 2008, to 684 at the end of February this year.

Aoraki Polytechnic's acting chief executive, Ben Lee, said he was not surprised by the increase. "Polytech's generally appear counter-cyclical during a recession." Mr Lee said students had been faced with either up-skilling or being unemployed.

"It's that student issue between `do I study or do I go on the unemployment benefit?'

"Studying always seems the better option."

Mr Lee said the biggest increases had come from male dominated courses like automotive, engineering, carpentry and electrical, while the 3D animation course out of the polytechnic's Dunedin campus has doubled in numbers this year.

Mr Lee said built-in work experience to courses had made it easier to give students on-the-job experience in a tightening job market.

"In a lot of cases we can manage if there is a decrease in work experience."

Mr Lee said the recession was only one of a number of factors which had contributed to increased numbers and he believed the recession had not hit Timaru as hard as other places in New Zealand.

Mr Lee said the increase of 17, 18 and 19-year-olds staying in the education system, combined with the older student looking to up-skill had played a part to the surge in numbers.

"Mr Lee said the polytechnic had seen a slight rise in the number of 30-40-year-old students, especially in their part-time courses, as people look to up-skill.

"They may have left school, gone straight to work but now they are finding, to progress to the next level they need to up-skill."

Mr Lee said the polytechnic focused on part-time students and said the EFTS figure was an early indication of increased numbers.

- © Fairfax NZ News