Otago Polytechnic remains optimistic about its student numbers, which are on budget, but 2.6% lower than this time last year.
In March, polytechnic communications director Mike Waddell announced a near 7% increase in budgeted equivalent full time students (Efts) from the previous year, and said the polytechnic was ''delighted with where we are''.
Now, Mr Waddell said, ''while we are behind on last year, we are tracking to budget'', and the optimism has not wavered.
The 2.6% discrepancy between this year's end of May Efts number - 3823 - and last year's - 3924 - was a ''timing issue when comparing one year to another''.
Mr Waddell said the difference stemmed from certain programmes being delayed to start in the second semester.
In any case, it was too soon to draw any firm conclusion on the numbers, he said.
International Efts numbers painted a more unambiguously rosy picture: ''We are up by 3.4% when compared to last year, and we are up on our 2015 budgeted numbers,'' Mr Waddell said.
The polytechnic has 15 more international Efts than budgeted for May 2015, and 13 more than at the end of May 2014.
