10 facts about New Zealand universities

How well do you know New Zealand’s university sector? Here are 10 facts that might surprise you:

1.   Universities are at the forefront of health research in New Zealand

Universities were awarded over 85% of the $83 million allocated in the latest round of Health Research Council funding and employ most of New Zealand’s researchers.^[1] [2]

2.   New Zealand has the 2nd highest degree completion rates in the OECD

At 81%, New Zealand’s bachelor’s degree completion rates (three years out from the theoretical duration of a programme) are equal with Denmark and second only to the UK. This is well above the completion rates seen in Australia (70%) and the OECD average (69%).^[3]

3.   International education is New Zealand’s 4th largest export earner

Last year international education overtook wood to become our 4th largest export earner behind tourism, dairy and meat.  Universities alone generated at least $1,040 million per year for New Zealand, representing 1.7% of all New Zealand’s exports. ^[4] [5]

4.   A university degree produces a lifetime benefit of $1.3 to 4 million

New Zealand university graduates earn between $1.3-$4 million more over their careers than a non-graduate after their costs of study are taken into account. ^[6]

5.   New Zealand’s universities generate $500+ million each year through commercialising their research

Universities develop and share their knowledge through teaching, publications and research collaborations. They also partner with starts up and established businesses to commercialise products, conduct research and provide consulting services. ^[7]

6.   Universities increase GDP

New Zealand’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is 3 to 6% higher because of the impact that a university education has had on the productivity of the workforce (28% of the workforce had a university qualification in 2014). ^[8]

7.   Universities underpin the export education market

Last year nearly 28,000 students chose to study in New Zealand universities, up 6% on the previous year. Key markets are China, USA, India, Malaysia and Vietnam. ^[9]

8.   Graduates have a positive effect on the workplace

Universities generate 43,000+ graduates a year, not just providing New Zealand with a highly skilled workforce, but also having a positive effect on the jobs and wages of non-graduates. International research shows that having more graduates in the economy creates new jobs and, through workforce productivity gains, lifts the wages of workers without a degree by an estimated 1.6-1.9%.^[10] [11]

9.   Māori doctoral graduates on the rise

Māori doctoral students have increased by 21% since 2008 – and it’s paying off. Māori doctoral graduates earn more than non-Māori graduates 5 years after study.^[12]

10.  All New Zealand’s universities are ranked in the top 500 of universities in the world

New Zealand is thought to be the only country in the world to have all its universities ranked in the top 3% of universities worldwide.^[13]

Sources

^{[1] Universities New Zealand, 2017. "UNZ welcomes first Health Research Strategy."}

^{[2] Universities New Zealand. "Driving research and innovation."}

^{[3] OECD, 2016. "Table A9.1 – Completion rate of full-time students by level of education, gender, method and duration (2014)", The Output of Educational Institutions and the Impact of Learning, OECD Publishing, Paris.}

^{[4] “The Economic Impact of International Education: 2015/2016.” Available through IntelliLab at www.enz.govt.nz}

^{[5] Universities New Zealand, 2016. “New research shows economic impact of New Zealand’s universities: NZIER Report”.}

^{[6] Universities New Zealand, 2016. “A degree is a smart investment”.}

^{[7] Universities New Zealand/University Commercialisation Offices of New Zealand. “University research commercialisation: Driving innovation and development”.}

^{[8] Universities New Zealand, 2016. “New research shows economic impact of New Zealand’s universities: NZIER Report”.}

^{[9] Education New Zealand, 2017. “New Zealand International Student Enrolments – 2016 Full Year.”}

^{[10] Education Counts, 2015. "Tertiary statistics – Retention and Achievement."}

^{[11] Enrico Moretti, 2004. “Estimating the social return to higher education: evidence from longitudinal and repeated cross-sectional data”, Journal of Econometrics 121, p175 – p212. See also: Universities Australia, 2016. “The graduate effect: higher education spillovers to the Australian workforce."}

^{[12] Universities New Zealand. "Driving Māori success."}

^{[13] QS, 2018. “QS World University Rankings 2018.”}