The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka has ranked first for student performance amongst New Zealand universities, maintaining an unbroken record that stretches back more than a decade.
Released today by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the annual Educational Performance Indicators (EPIs) examine course and qualification completion rates, first-year retention rates and progression to higher levels of study for institutions across the tertiary sector.
For the 2024 academic year, Otago ranked first for qualification completion rate, a close second for the course completion rate and first-year retention rate, and fourth in progression from sub-degree to degree-level study.
That represented the strongest overall result of any University.
Otago's results for Māori and Pacific students were also the best of any University.
The University topped two of the four measures (qualification completion and retention) for Māori and was second for course completion.
For Pacific students, Otago was first for three of the four measures (qualification completion, retention and progression) and third for course completion.
Otago has performed exceptionally well in the EPIs since they were introduced in 2009, having topped many of the indicators for the past few years.
Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson is pleased the University has retained its position.
"These results are a testament to the dedication of our students and the huge effort they put into their studies.
"It is also a reflection of the impressive work done by our staff. Otago is a world-class university with excellent kaimahi and teaching facilities, so it is great to see that continues to be reflected in our students' performances."
Otago's results across the latest TEC performance measures:
- Course completion rate (90.6 per cent)
- First-year retention rate, from 2023 to 2024 (84.3 per cent)
- Qualification completion rate (75.2 per cent)
- Student progression from sub-degree study (86.4 per cent)
