Wanganui�s new Matapihi ki te Ao campus, is proving to be a drawcard for new students.

Whanganui UCOL reports an increase of four per cent in new students enrolled for the first semester this year, with most programmes due to start next Monday.

Campus Principal Julia Pedley says the appeal of the new campus, and its state-of-the-art and student-friendly facilities, is likely to be one reason for the increase. "It is doubly pleasing because most of the new students have enrolled for degree or one year programmes, rather than shorter courses," she says.

Total student numbers for the first semester at Whanganui UCOL stand at 534, compared with 530 at the same time last year. New students number 347, compared with 334 in mid February last year.

Julia says enrolments are strong in Hairdressing, Culinary Arts, Exercise and Sport and Nursing. "This suggests students are looking ahead to the good employment prospects in some of these areas. For example, there is a national shortage of gym instructors and a queue of employers waiting for our graduates. There is also a shortage of health workers, including nurses.

"We have also seen a big jump in numbers enrolling for the National Certificate in Mental Health (Support Work) where, again, there is a growing demand for graduates. The numbers enrolled for the certificate have reached 30, with 13 on the wait list."

The number of students enrolling for degree and certificate programmes in Fashion is similar to numbers last year � and enrolments for the Certificate in Arts and Design are also similar, at 18.

Whanganui UCOL has attracted a number of students who are taking advantage of the UCOL-wide Redundancy offer, available to anyone made redundant after 1 September last year.

Under the Redundancy offer, eligible students enrolling to study during 2009 do not have to pay normal tuition fees for any UCOL programmes. And if they can�t find employment in their study area within 13 weeks of successfully completing a programme started in 2009, they can then apply to enrol on another programme in 2010 without paying further fees.

So far five people have picked up the UCOL offer after being made redundant, and are enrolled to study in the first semester.

Julia says other inquiries are in the pipeline and she expects interest to increase for the second semester. "But of course this offer is there to support people who may lose their jobs in the months ahead. We are happy if only small numbers of people in the Wanganui region need to take it up, because that would reflect a stable employment market."

Of the five Wanganui people who have taken up the Redundancy offer, two will study for the National Certificate in Mental Health, two are taking Culinary Arts and Hospitality programmes, and one will study Carpentry.

Julia says there are still places available in a number of study areas, including Business programmes, and enrolments will be accepted for up to two weeks after programmes start.

"In the current economic environment, we are encouraging people who want to improve their business skills to take advantage of our flexible study arrangements. For example, they can study full-time, part-time or on line, to improve their career and employment prospects," she says.

Julia says an ideal programme for people wanting to upskill is the Certificate for Advanced Computers Users which starts in March.

The number of international students enrolling to study at Whanganui UCOL is on a par with numbers last year.

People who want to know more about programmes on offer at Whanganui UCOL or who want to check out the Redundancy offer should go to www.ucol.ac.nz or phone 0800 Go UCOL (0800 46 8265) or mail to: [email protected].

For further details please contact:

Julia Pedley Principal
Whanganui UCOL
06 965 3800
021 486977

Di Billing
Acting Director
UCOL Communications
06 9527001 extension 70548
021 896703