Tertiary attainment
Definition
The proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 with a tertiary qualification at bachelor’s degree level or above.
Relevance
Tertiary education contributes to the development of social and scientific knowledge and to artistic and cultural expression. Educational levels of the population are also positively related to economic growth rates and affect a country’s capacity to provide its citizens with a high standard of living.
At an individual level the attainment of recognised tertiary qualifications is associated with a range of positive outcomes in areas such as paid work, health and economic security. Individuals who engage in tertiary education often find the experience to be personally rewarding and fulfilling.
Current level and trends
The proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 with a tertiary qualification at bachelor’s degree or higher has increased steadily since the early 1990s.
In 2006, 27.6 percent of people aged 25 to 34 had a tertiary qualification at this level.
Proportion of people aged 25 to 34 with a bachelor’s degree or higher qualification, selected years 1991-2006
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census.
Note
The establishment of the National Qualifications Framework in the mid-1990s led to the development of a new range of certificate or diploma based tertiary qualifications, many of which are of a level equivalent to the more traditional degree programmes. This figure only covers Bachelor degrees because this allows the trend over time for completions from 1991 to 2006 to be shown. The age range used, 25-34, was chosen to give a reasonable view of the degrees completed by young people.
