Student engagement at New Zealand private training establishments (PTEs): key results from the 2011 pilot of the AUSSE

In 2011, a pilot of the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) was conducted with Private Training Establishments (PTEs) in New Zealand where funding was provided for the project by Ako Aotearoa and support also given by New Zealand Association of Private Education Providers (NZAPEP). This report focuses on the results from this pilot. Close to 1,000 responses were collected from students as part of the pilot at ten PTEs and included students undertaking qualifications from New Zealand Qualifications Authority levels three through seven – certificate level to bachelor degree level study. While much is known about the rates of participation, attrition, retention and completion among students in tertiary education in New Zealand, collecting information on student engagement provides institutions and the sector with more insights into how students are learning, why they are satisfied or dissatisfied with their educational experience and why some students are dropping out of their study. Having information on these aspects of students’ experience with learning can help improve student participation, attrition, retention and completion at individual institutions and across the sector.