Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said in a report tabled at yesterday's council meeting that as of mid-June, 293 international equivalent full-time students (Efts) were enrolled at the polytechnic, compared with 166 at the same time last year.
The increase was largely due to the creation of an Auckland campus, which mid-last month had 98.8 international Efts.
The campus, targeted only at the international market, took on its first students in August last year and was proving more popular than expected.
Mr Ker said the campus was on target to reach about 130 international Efts for the full year.
''I am also pleased to report that the new floor for the campus has been fully commissioned, enabling us to cope with this faster-than-anticipated growth,'' he said.
Polytechnic communications director Mike Waddell said the Auckland campus was not alone in exceeding expectations for the year, with the Dunedin campus also performing well.
The increase was particularly pleasing since it was going against a sector-wide trend, Mr Waddell said.
''I think we have to be very pleased with where we are going,'' he said.
The polytechnic aimed to continue growing and had set a target of increasing international student numbers next year by 15% on this year's budget.
''This will be achieved by focusing and integrating our Dunedin and Auckland marketing and recruitment teams on international recruitment.''
Overall enrolments continue to be down on budget, but up on last year, with 3521 Efts at the end of May, compared with 3450.8 at the same time last year and a budgeted roll of 3630.8 for this year.
Mr Ker said numbers were expected to rise further by the end of the year, with only a ''small shortfall'' compared to that budgeted.
The operating surplus for the year to the end of May stood at $931,000, which was $1.121 million lower than the budgeted amount. The large difference was ''mostly timing'' related, but there was some ''risk'' over the level of second semester enrolments.
