Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
2 hours ago
EIT has done well in the annual educational performance indicators (EPI).
EIT’s retention of first year students from 2022 into 2023 was the highest among all New Zealand’s Polytechnics despite the destruction and disruption of Cyclone Gabrielle last year.
In addition, EIT was also above the national average in the three other indicators of learner achievement and success, namely course completion, progression, and qualification completion.
The newly released data from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) as part of its annual educational performance indicators (EPI), assesses the performance of tertiary education organisations.
The EPIs reveal that EIT’s first year retention rate from 2022 to 2023 was 81 percent, with students returning for their second year despite the Cyclone damaging the Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale and disrupting students in Tairāwhiti. The average for all former Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP) was 65 percent. All ITPs are currently part of Te Pūkenga which the government has begun disestablishing.
All four of the indicators put EIT above the ITP average when it comes to Māori and Pacific peoples.
EIT’s Executive Director Portfolio and Performance Patrick Jones says the figures are remarkable considering what EIT students and staff went through last year.
“These statistics highlight the dedication of our staff to continuing the delivery of high-quality education despite some severe challenges.”
“The cyclone hit on the second day of semester for most of these students, and while you can say that it only hit the Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale, which is a big cohort anyway, you’ve got to remember that Hawke’s Bay serviced all of our other sites, Tairāwhiti and Auckland.
Patrick says that the data also shows the ongoing resilience of Tairāwhiti students who came back to study last year despite the fact that many of them were personally affected by multiple weather events even before the Cyclone.
Cyclone Gabrielle caused extensive damage to the Taradale site in February last year with up to 90 percent of the ground-floor buildings – more than 500 rooms – being damaged by flood water and contaminated silt. EIT had to find teaching space across Hawke’s Bay to continue its programmes and the community responded enthusiastically. Up to 45 temporary sites across Napier and Hastings were operating in what was described as EIT’s “extended campus”.
“The figures also show a really strong connection to our community and their response to working with us to find places to teach in after the Cyclone. It also shows the resilience of both staff and students,” says Patrick.
“We are really pleased that we are able to offer support to our students and also thank Te Pūkenga for the allocation of hardship funding for students.”
