Initiatives to boost Maori student achievement levels at Otago Polytechnic are improving, although course and qualification completion rates remain "significantly lower" than that of other learners, a New Zealand Qualifications Authority report says.
The NZQA's external evaluation review for Otago Polytechnic released last month credits the institute for implementing several initiatives to improve cultural and course programmes for its Maori students.
However, course completion rates of 66% and qualification completion rates of 49% compare with overall course and qualification completion rates of 78% and 62% last year.
Success rates for Maori were increasing, although course and qualification completions were "significantly lower than for other learners", the report said.
Polytechnic marketing services group manager Mike Waddell said the institute was focused on improving the quality of all its students, as the NZQA report highlighted, and this included several initiatives for Maori learners.
"We've been proactive in relation to developing a whole pastoral care and have a strategy which is about understanding the needs of learners.
"We are very serious about support for our students," he said.
The polytech is introducing a scheme to encourage more Maori students to pursue trade qualifications in conjunction with local runaka, next year. The scheme was one of many which showed how the polytech was focused on "aligning education programmes up with real-life outcomes", Mr Waddell said.
Maori student numbers have increased to about 11% of the polytech's domestic roll of 3341 equivalent fulltime students, almost double a 6% enrolment target to achieve parity with the Otago region Maori population, the NZQA review says.
