Unitec Pathways College (UPC) has made a strong start to the year recording an 18 percent increase in their enrolments compared to last year, which demonstrates the high demand for vocational education in our communities.
During their February Orientations, UPC welcomed 281 students from 20 secondary schools across Auckland. With final confirmations still coming in, enrolments are expected to reach 325 students — up from 276 in 2025.
The growth reflects both expanded programme offerings and strengthened partnerships with schools.
New to UPC this year are One Tree Hill College, The BUSY School, Ko Taku Reo School, Kelston, and Te Kura Kaupapa o Nga Maungarongo. Around 30 percent of this year’s students are returning from 2025, highlighting continued engagement with the programmes.
Team Leader, Academic Operations Leanne Kapoor says several factors contributed to the increase. The reintroduction of the Health Level 2 and 3 course attracted renewed interest, while strong word of mouth from students who had positive experiences last year helped drive demand. Increased visits to high schools and “at-school enrolments” also made it easier for students to sign up.
“We also saw an increase in our numbers from last year’s schools because their students had a great year with us,” Ms Kapoor says. “We’ve worked hard on good communication with our secondary schools.”
Automotive remains the most popular pathway in 2026, accounting for approximately 50 percent of total enrolments across Level 2 and 3 courses. Other offerings include Carpentry Level 2 and 3, Animal Care Level 3, and Health Level 2 and 3.
In Semester One, a Level 3 Automotive cohort and a Level 3 Carpentry cohort from Dilworth School and Waitākere College are undertaking semester-long study.
The Waitākere College Carpentry students will begin their build at our Mt Albert campus before relocating the project to their own school grounds in Henderson, where they will construct a Fale (Samoan traditional house) designed to serve as a teaching space for up to 20 students.
Animal Care students will take part in guest speaker sessions and offsite visits to industry partners including Auckland Zoo and local animal hospitals. Guest speakers will also feature across other programmes, linking learning to real-world career pathways.
Orientation Week was delivered across five days, supported by our Māia Māori Success Team, Student Central, Trades and Services, and Wellbeing staff.
Students were provided a pōwhiri welcome onto Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae, which was followed by whakawhanaungatanga (the Māori process of establishing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships and connections) sessions, PPE fittings and student ID processing to ensure learners were prepared both academically and socially.
UPC surveyed all students and their feedback indicated a strong sense of belonging, with between 50 and 74 percent of respondents saying they enjoyed the welcoming experience and felt part of Unitec as a result. Responses across other questions relating to courses, staff and orientation activities were also positive.
A new initiative introduced this year, the “My Pathways Snapshot,” saw all Orientation attendees complete a form outlining their goals and interests. The information will allow UPC staff to tailor learning content and engagement strategies to better align with students’ aspirations. Ms Kapoor credits Transition Coordinator, Jessica Rudman, who oversees pastoral care and events for UPC, with leading the initiative.
Beyond on-campus delivery, six schools are also using Unitec learning and teaching materials in Sport or Automotive, further extending the programme’s reach.
Unitec Pathways College works to connect high school students with tertiary study by delivering NCEA Level 2 and 3 Vocational Pathway and STAR programmes in partnership with secondary schools. The 2026 enrolment increase signals growing confidence in vocational education as a direct and supported pathway into further study and employment.
