Otago Polytechnic chief executive Megan Gibbons said the increase in domestic students — up more than 20% on last year — was ‘‘fantastic’’ for the school.
The polytechnic’s net operating surplus of $1,115,000 was ahead of a budgeted deficit by $1,975,000, Dr Gibbons said.
There was a 20.6% increase in domestic enrolments, an increase of 760 domestic equivalent full-time students (EFTS).
Despite a drop of 40.3% in international enrolments (193 EFTS) the school had an overall 13.6% increase in enrolments for 2021 compared with 2020 at a corresponding time.
The demand ranged across all of areas of the polytechnic from various construction programmes to health and wellbeing, applied management, design and creative courses, she said.
Most programme areas were reporting full cohorts for the first semester.
Dr Gibbons’ report to the polytechnic’s board this week says the 4473 EFTS enrolments were ahead of budget by 850 EFTS.
Net cash was favourable by $374,000.
Capital spending was behind by $2.3million due to the timing of the polytechnic’s $31million Trade Training Centre in Dunedin, the report said.
