Polytechnic executives held a staff meeting on July 31 to announce proposed cuts to its architecture, building and engineering school after enrolment was forecast to drop by 53 (8.6%) equivalent full time students (Efts) this year.
The Otago Daily Times understands up to 10 of the school's 48 full time staff positions could be axed.
Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said although the programme's Efts numbers had been climbing, the polytechnic had to react to the drop this year.
''The Ministry of Education's predictions for enrolment in the polytechnic sector ... [forecast] a significant softening in enrolment across [the sector] next year,'' he said.
''When we gaze forward to next year, we have the ministry claiming they've got a very reliable predictive model which is telling us that we shouldn't be expecting strong enrolments across the board.''
Mr Ker said the polytechnic had focused a great deal of energy on trying to attract students to the programme, but those efforts had not been successful.
''It's not as though there hasn't been a major drive to reach the typical influences; parents, careers, guidance people and so on,'' he said.
''We'll teach any students that come through the door, but they're not coming through the door.''
But TEU organiser Kris Smith said the polytechnic needed to take ''a hard look'' at its building programme, especially in light of a recent Government report that predicted a boom in the construction industry over the next five years.
''The predicted growth in building, construction and associated industries means employers will be desperate for qualified graduates from these programmes,'' she said.
''What [the polytechnic has] been doing obviously hasn't worked, and so it requires a hard look at what would need to happen to be successful in terms of attracting students to those programmes.''
Ms Smith said despite the predicted softening in enrolment, demand for diplomas in construction would surely be there.
''It's true that the Ministry of Education is predicting numbers to decline across the board in tertiary education, but in areas related to construction, the national pipeline report does predict a need for a significant number of qualified people in the whole range of related construction trades.''
''The polytech has said itself that [Efts] numbers had been strong in that area until this year ...
''We believe they should be trying to ride out a blip of this nature,'' Ms Smith said.
She cited comments made in national media by industry leaders ''expressing concern about ensuring sufficient skilled and qualified workers are available to meet this demand'', and said the polytechnic had a ''responsibility to ensure they meet the needs of industry''.
In response to questions about the proposed cuts, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said ''all tertiary providers need to adjust to demand as it changes''.
''In the case of Otago Polytechnic, it has had a decrease in the number of Efts in a particular department, so it's carrying out a review.
''It's important to note that this is just a proposal.''
He was ''confident a building boom will be met with skilled workers''.
Key points
• Polytechnic executives tell staff on July 31 about proposed cuts to the building school.
• Up to 10 full time staff positions could be cut
• An enrolment drop is cited as the main reason.
• Government report on July 30 predicts a $200billion construction boom, mainly in Auckland.
• Other regions - including Otago - are forecast to contribute.
• Construction activity is supposed to carry through to 2020
