Our students

Over 40,000 students enrolled with us in 2011, studying anything from basic skills to degree level and living throughout New Zealand and in over 40 countries overseas.

Most are individual students in employment studying for job or career reasons, but they also include people studying for general interest or personal development, or under contract arrangements through secondary schools, industry training organisations or public and private sector organisations.

Key statistics

 In 2011:

  • 41,189 individual students were enrolled in Open Polytechnic courses
  • 69% were in employment
  • 96% were studying part-time
  • 1,443 were studying with a disability
  • 76% were aged 25 years or over
  • 26% were aged between 30 and 39
  • 35% were aged over 40
  • 17% were Māori (over 4,000 students)
  • 7% were Pasifika
  • 57% were female
  • 26% had no school qualification.

Find out what our students say about study with Open Polytechnic.

Who studies with us and what do they learn?

Our students are lifelong learners studying in the home or workplace – people who want to learn but who seek or need an alternative to conventional study. Our easily accessible courses and services are carefully designed to meet their needs.

Vocational education is our key role. Three-quarters of our students are in the workforce and studying part-time to improve job skills or career development.

At the same time, lifelong learning embraces many needs and aspirations – many of our students are studying with us to follow an interest or hobby or for personal development.

We also work with our partners to support learning in a wide range of other contexts. We supply training and education in conjunction with commercial clients, industry training organisations, schools and other training providers, both in New Zealand and internationally.

What do our current students think?

Each year, we ask our students how they rate our courses and services.

We do this through a major survey commissioned from an independent market research firm.

The results are published in our annual report. We also use the information to improve our understanding of student needs, values and attitudes.

Key results from the 2010 survey:

  • 93% believe their employers would consider their qualification valuable
  • 94% say their study will be valuable for a future job
  • 84% say their study is valuable for their current job
  • 89% Overall value for money for Open Polytechnic courses
  • 90% satisfaction with course materials
  • 98% satisfaction with the Library Service
  • 87% rated tutor support in the range excellent to good
  • 93% rated staff advice and assistance during enrolment as excellent to good