{
  "id": 4380401,
  "title": "Auckland and Canterbury university enrolments rise as trades training struggles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/auckland-and-canterbury-university-enrolments-rise-as-trades-training",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-30T08:27:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RNZ Business",
    "slug": "rnz-business",
    "url": "https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/education/1187278/auckland-and-canterbury-university-enrolments-rise-as-trades-training-struggles"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Zealand's universities saw a surge in enrolments this year, with Auckland and Canterbury universities leading the growth, according to a report by the Tertiary Education Commission. From April 2025 to April 2026, the total number of people enrolled in tertiary education and training dropped by 1 percent, reaching 354,695. This decline was primarily driven by a 5 percent decrease in vocational education and training enrolments, while higher education enrollment increased by 4 percent. The total number of full-time equivalent students rose by 2 percent, to 203,918, compared to the previous year.\n\nThe largest increases in higher education were recorded at the University of Auckland, which saw an 8 percent rise, adding 2165 EFTS, and the University of Canterbury, which also experienced an 8 percent increase, adding 1254 EFTS. These two universities accounted for nearly half of the total growth in higher education delivery. Lincoln University was the only university to see a decrease in delivery, with only a minimal drop of six EFTS.\n\nConversely, the number of people enrolled in vocational education and training fell sharply, with work-based apprenticeships and training enrolments dropping by 10 percent compared to the same period last year. Most subject areas experienced a decline in work-based EFTS, with Architecture and Building seeing a 17 percent decrease, and Engineering and Related Technologies experiencing a 9 percent drop. These two subject areas accounted for 63 percent of all work-based vocational education provision in April 2026, contributing significantly to the overall decline in work-based provision.\n\nDespite the decline in vocational education, the number of work-based learners had dropped for four consecutive years, falling 28 percent lower than in April 2021 when measured on an equivalent full-time student basis. The number of international students also rose by 9 percent, reaching 45,586 equivalent full-time students, with more than half of them studying at universities.",
  "summary": "Auckland and Canterbury have seized most of the growth in university enrolments this year.",
  "key_points": [
    "Auckland and Canterbury universities saw 8% higher higher education enrolments",
    "Vocational education enrolments dropped 5%, work-based apprenticeships declined 10%",
    "International student numbers rose 9%, totaling 45,586 equivalent full-time students"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}