Otago Polytechnic's graduation in Dunedin yesterday was the biggest December ceremony in the polytechnic's history, with 903 people graduating in a wide range of disciplines.
About 460 people graduated in person at the ceremony at the Regent Theatre, and the rest in absentia.
Overall, capping numbers this month, involving both the University of Otago and the polytechnic, are likely to be among the highest December figures for the two institutions.
A total of 2459 graduands, not counting about 50 in Invercargill, are receiving qualifications from the university in Dunedin this month.
About 1055 students will graduate from the university in two ceremonies (1pm and 4pm) at the Regent Theatre next Saturday.
This will be the largest number to graduate in one day in December in the university's history.
A total of 1008 health science students graduated from the university at a December 11 ceremony last year, and 1014 at an event in December 2002.
The usual town hall venue is unavailable because of redevelopment work.
Otago Polytechnic communications manager Mike Waddell said it was a "no-brainer" that yesterday's large polytechnic graduation was positive for the Dunedin and Otago economy.
The polytechnic was making a "significant contribution" regionally, through considerable spending in the community by students during their studies, and by providing skills which would help graduates gain employment.
Otago Polytechnic was also contributing strongly nationally and internationally.
Students undertaking some new academic programmes had contributed to the increased numbers, and the outcome also reflected a "greater awareness" in the community of the need to acquire vocationally linked skills.
The large graduation also reflected the polytechnic's high degree completion rates- which the Tertiary Education Commission had noted were 75% this year, highest-equal with Otago University in the New Zealand polytechnic and university sectors, he said.
University graduation office group leader Jenny Officer said the larger December 17 graduation partly reflected overall university student roll growth and a reorganisation of arrangements to even out the number of people participating in respective ceremonies, given the use of the smaller Regent venue.
Among the many people graduating from the polytechnic yesterday were Jan O'Brien (34) and Kerri Jackson, in her 40s, who have both gained national certificates in mental health.
Both said their year-long courses had come after a long break from previous study and their new qualifications had improved their ability to gain work.
"I'm quite proud of myself," Miss O'Brien said.
