Engagement shared on tertiary education delivery

A significant number of working groups have been established, as a way to progress work with input and knowledge coming from across the motu. The focus for the work being done in these group all contributes towards ensuring we can provide world-class vocational and on the job-learning for ākonga regardless of location and with several modes of learning available.

Over 1000 people from across Te Pūkenga’s network put their hand up to become involved in various working groups within Academic Delivery and Innovation workstreams after they were established last year. “For many, this work was in addition to their regular roles and it indicates the high level of commitment that we share for the future of the organisation. Many the working groups are continuing with their mahi into this year,” Town says.

Amongst those involved there are 800 people supporting Programme Unification work, 150 involved in future planning and process activity, 130 who contributed to Quality Assurance and Regulatory Framework mahi and over 80 involved in the initial workshops to establish our Ako Teaching and Learning Framework.

Robyn Valentine is a Programme Leader – Marketing & Management at Southern Institute of Technology. She has been involved in a Programme Unification workstream and explains, “I got involved in the NZ Diploma in Business working groups to gain a better understanding of the final unified programme and so implementation and delivery would be easier. The opportunity to collaborate with others throughout the country is very rewarding. The process is a major step in the different institutions coming together to assist each other in very practical way.”

Hafiz Bakri is an Animal Care and Vet Nursing Lecturer and the Programme Coordinator at Eastern Institute of Technology. He reflected on his experiences in the Animal Healthcare and Vet Nursing unification working group, “I wanted to join as I saw this workstream as an opportunity to support our tertiary providers and learners in creating a unified programme that works for everyone. The development has been exciting and I can see our vision coming to life. Te Pūkenga has reached out to many stakeholders and given them a voice and I feel it is my responsibility to ensure this is reflected in the programme development.”

Dr Angela Beaton, Deputy Chief Executive Delivery and Academic is thrilled with the high level of network involved that has developed. She said, “It’s really heartening to have a growing number of the network involved in this collective mahi. Having engagement and voices from across the network brings a range of worldviews, ideas, ako expertise and experience to the conversation. This ensures the mahi that is being done to plan for our future will be well-placed to succeed.”

Town added, “As workstream activity continues to progress in the coming year there will be opportunity for more kaimahi to get involved, and for those who are already actively involved to continue to participate.”