Otago University again tops national educational performance

The University of Otago has once again come out top of the key Government indicators measuring the educational performance of students at New Zealand's universities.

Released this week by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the annual Educational Performance Indicators (EPIs) examine course and qualification completions, retention rates and progression to higher levels of study.

According to the current suite of measures, Otago ranked a clear first for student qualification completions, first year retention and progression to higher levels of study. In the other key measure, of course completion, Otago ranked second by a slender margin.

Assessing performance over 2017, the most recent complete academic year, this result follows an Otago clean sweep of all the key indicators in 2016, and Otago topping all but one of the measures the year before.

The result comes just weeks after Otago academics secured four awards at the national tertiary teaching awards including – for the sixth time in seven years – the Prime Minister's Supreme Award for Tertiary Teaching Excellence.

Otago Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne welcomed the release of the latest indicators.

“The University of Otago has always rated very highly in the TEC's annual educational performance indicators, and I am delighted we have done so well again this year.

“This also reflects the excellence of our teaching staff and the systems we have and are continuing to fine-tune to enhance our learning environment. This result is ultimately earned by our students, who put a huge commitment into achieving their full potential.

“The timing of this news is especially fitting as our undergraduate students have just commenced their final exams for 2018; I am confident they will be achieving to a level that will mean Otago will continue to do well in the Educational Performance Indicator rankings a year from now.”

Otago's showing in the 2017 TEC performance measures:

• Student progression rate to higher level study (93 per cent)
• Course completion rate (89 per cent)
• First-year retention rate (84 per cent)
• Qualification completion rate (74 per cent)

The full results for universities can be viewed on the TEC website.

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