Further Education and Training

As in previous years, all migrants who participated in the 2007 SEFS were asked if they had taken up study or training since gaining residence in New Zealand and their reasons for doing so.

The survey found that 39 percent of migrants had taken up studying or training.[14] When viewed by region of origin, at 24 percent, migrants from Other regions were significantly less likely to have undertaken study or training when compared with migrants from ESANA, the UK/Ireland or Asia (43 percent, 41 percent and 39 percent respectively).[15]

Figure 21 shows that 33 percent of migrants who have taken up study since gaining residence in New Zealand did so at a private training establishment, while 20 percent have done so at a university, 20 percent at a polytechnic and 15 percent at school.

Figure 21: Where migrants have studied by principal and secondary applicants (n=238)

Data Table for Figure 21

Totals may exceed 100% due to multiple response.
Excludes missing and not stated data.

With the exception that principal applicants were significantly less likely to have undertaken study at a school since gaining residence (ten percent compared with 22 percent of secondary applicants), the results are relatively similar when viewed by applicant type, and there were no significant differences when viewed by application approval category.[16]

As detailed in Figure 22, most frequently, migrants undertook study to upgrade their qualifications (40 percent), or to get a job/better job (32 percent).

With the exception that secondary applicants were significantly more likely to report getting a job/a better job as a reason for studying (40 percent compared with 27 percent of principal applicants), there were no significant differences in relation to the reasons for undertaking study when viewed by applicant type.

Figure 22: Reasons for undertaking study by principal and secondary applicants (n=238)

Data Table for Figure 22

Totals may exceed 100% due to multiple response.
Excludes missing and not stated data.

Due to small sub-sample sizes, it was not possible to determine if there were any significant differences in relation to principal and secondary applicants when viewed by region of origin. However, a breakdown down of these results among principal and secondary applicants by region of origin can be found in Appendix C.[17]

Summary

• A significant proportion of migrants (39 percent) have undertaken study since taking up residence in New Zealand.
• Migrants from Other regions were significantly less likely to have undertaken study (24 percent) than migrants from ESANA (43 percent), the United Kingdom/Ireland (41 percent) or Asia (39 percent).
• Principal applicants most frequently undertook study to get their qualifications upgraded (44 percent), while secondary applicants were more likely to have done so to get a job/find a better job (40 percent).
• 19 percent of principal applicants and 21 percent of secondary applicants who have undertaken study did so to improve their English language skills.

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