Institute director, Elizabeth McGregor, says that the high quality of the organisation's performance in 2013 'provides a fantastic platform for our competitiveness in the training market over the next few years'.

"The 2013 National Centre for Vocational Education Research Student Outcomes Survey findings showed some benchmark results for North Coast TAFE," Ms McGregor said.

"Overall, we matched or bettered all Australian providers, public and private, in terms of student satisfaction."

The survey found that students graduating from North Coast TAFE with a full qualification in 2013 were at least three points higher in satisfaction ratings than those from all VET providers in Australia with their experience of teaching, assessment, learning and overall quality (90 per cent vs 87 per cent).

Ms McGregor said that North Coast TAFE's enrolments continue to rise, especially online and on-the job, with recent figures showing that over a third of students accessed their studies outside a traditional classroom and over 5,000 of those studied online.

"This reflects the major shift in vocational education and training, with learners wanting their studies to fit their lifestyle at a time that suits them," says Ms McGregor.

"We also had nearly double the enrolments by Aboriginal students in high level courses - Diplomas and Certificate IV - which provide improved employment prospects and a pathway to a university course," says Ms McGregor.

North Coast TAFE students and staff also gained national recognition in 2013.

"Wollongbar hospitality apprentice Kieran Foster was awarded an Australian Vocational Student Prize, auto apprentice Tom Rann was chosen in a national search to join Ford's national Supercar V8 team and design teacher Harry Williamson, from Kingscliff TAFE, was recently inducted into the Design Institute of Australia Hall of Fame," Ms McGregor said.