Ucol enrolments down for next year | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

FALLING unemployment may be behind an expected drop in next year's enrolments at Ucol, Masterton.

Campus principal Jenny Jenkins has confirmed that applications through WINZ are down and that enrolments at tertiary institutions nationally are lower than usual for this time of the year.

Ms Jenkins said at times of near-full employment, those seeking further education drops.

"I would like to think there are people out there who are yet to enrol and I would encourage them to get their enrolments in as soon as possible."

She did not put a figure on enrolments for next year, saying only that they were "up on 2003 but down on this year".

Ms Jenkins said there had been no staff lay-offs at Ucol.

She said it is true there has been some rationalisation with computers but this is driven by the need to avoid computers sitting idle and to increase the efficiency of their use.

"A lot of money is invested in computers and surveys across the country show that savings need to be made.

"Obviously Wairarapa has to move to improve efficiency in that area."

Ms Jenkins said the aim was to ensure anyone needing to use a computer would have one but that there was a lower level of interest in computer training.

This was probably due to people becoming more computer-literate and needing less training.

She said Ucol can take enrolments right up to course starting time and even beyond.

"We can accept them in some cases when up to 10 per cent of a course has already been done, as long as it is possible for students to catch up.

"For instance, if a course is 36 weeks we can take students after three weeks."

Ms Jenkins said ways of ensuring Ucol in Wairarapa keeps going are constantly explored and just recently an application has been made to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise for $60,000 in regional funding.

Moves were also afoot to give the campus an "iconic" image by developing an overseas partner, probably one in the United States.