As the New England Institute of TAFE gears up for another busy year, officials have released what they believe are the most popular courses the region’s students are opting for.

TAFE New England Acting Institute Director, John Michael, said Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care and Certificate III in Business Administration were the most popular courses, across the Institute, in 2016.

Not far behind were Automotive Vocational Preparation, Electrotechnology Electrician, Carpentry, Nursing and Animal Studies. Mr Michael said he believed the demand in the courses remains high because they are led by industry experts and often provide real-life employment opportunities and outcomes for many who complete them.

“Across our 11 campuses Childhood, Business and Automotive courses are very popular,” Mr Michael said.

“These particular courses are so popular because of high industry demand, and because these courses are led by industry experts. The fact that employers trust our training and employ our graduates means they are a great choice for people looking to gain hands-on training that can lead to exciting employment prospects.”

Mr Michael said enrolments for 2017 are now open at TAFE New England.

“At TAFE New England we pride ourselves on offering education and training that changes lives,” Mr Michael said.

“We have more than 200 courses on offer across the New England and North West of NSW, meaning there’s something for everyone – no matter where you live, your skill level or your qualifications.

“For school leavers, people considering a new career or those simply needing to brush up on their skills, there’s never been a better time to consider TAFE.” The University of New England had earlier revealed that Psychology and Criminology were on the hot list of enrollments for students this year.