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Kia ora , 

 

We're excited to share our latest news and sector updates for April and May. we have some exciting work underway, including our strategy co-design project with the sector, the Northern Regional Forum in Auckland on 8 May, and the recently announced New Zealand Literacy and Numeracy Educator Awards!

In this Ako Alert:

  • Website pick of free resources

  • Connecting with our community
  • Pacific community of practice
  • Blog #2 | A comprehensive guide to UDL
  • Literacy and Numeracy Educator Awards
  • Central Regional Forum highlights
  • Pacific scholarship awarded
  • PLD theme for May | Pacific leadership principles 
  • A.I powered teaching companion
  • Upcoming professional development

Website pick of free resources

Work-integrated learning legacies -1

Resource

Work-Integrated Learning Legacies | Building Student & Supervisor Capability

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Implementing and evaluating the Pasifika success toolkit within Canterbury tertiary organisations

Project

Implementing and evaluating the Pasifika success toolkit within Canterbury tertiary organisations

 

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1,044 Downloads

Connecting with our community

Strategy Co-Design Project

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Ako Aotearoa – The National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence - is  undertaking a strategy co-design project with the tertiary education sector to guide its future priorities and direction.

 

The Ako Aotearoa Board invites educators to participate in this collaborative project to ensure sector wide expertise, experiences and perspectives contribute to this work. 

 

Find out more 

Northern Regional Forum

We're excited to be hosting our Northern Regional Forum next week!

 

It's great to see that staff from 33 organisations are already registered to attend. Contribute to the growing discussion and register now - Limited spaces remaining 

Join the discussion

View the full programme here

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Te Reo Māori around the world

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We're thrilled to announce our Te Tohu Reo Māori award received nine exceptional nominations. The judging panel eagerly await the full applications for stage 2 of this nomination process, closing 5pm on 27 June.

 

We were also pleased to read an article by Radio New Zealand on how Te Reo Māori courses are now being offered in the United States of America.  

Workshop organised by Literacy Christchurch and Risingholme Learning 

In March, Manako facilitator Dr Damon Whitten and Southern Sector Services Manager Jennifer Leahy co-led a successful In-house workshop about learner agency for a group of educators from six diverse Christchurch organisations. 

 

We're happy to offer tailored workshops like this to meet your organisation's needs. Contact us to learn more.

 

Jennifer and Damon at Risingholme Learning

Skills standards | ConCOVE

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Staff were delighted to attend a recent webinar hosted by ConCOVE Tūhura launching the Skills Standards project. Congratulations to project leads Karen Vaughan and Andrew Kear for their excellent work and comprehensive range of resources.

 

 

Visit their website to find out more.

APSTE Regional events

The Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education (APSTE) will be hosting four regional events in early May.

  • Upper North Region - Quiz Night
  • Upper North Region - Meet and Greet 
  • Lower North Region - Meet and Greet 
  • Lower South Region - Meet and Great 

If you or a member of your staff would like to find out more, visit the APSTE website for all event info..

 

APSTE logo - green background

More News From Ako Aotearoa 

Pacific community of practice 

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With the support of Aiono Manu Fa'aea and our Pacific Cultural Advisor, Saylene Ulberg, Ako Aotearoa warmly invites educators to join the free Community of Phenomenal Practice. This initiative has been created to support educators who teach Pasifika learners and to provide a space for growth and talanoa.

 

The group will be hosting a series of webinars throughout the year exclusively for community members. See details below for upcoming webinar dates:

  • Mon 19 May with Associate Professor Dion Enari (Unitec)
  • Tues 24 June 12pm - 1pm - Sharon Malaitai (EIT)

Future webinars are also planned for, 26 August, 30 September, 28 October, and 25 November. Joining the Community of Phenomenal Practice is free and available to all educators with a Facebook account.  

Blog #2 | A comprehensive guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

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We're pleased to announce that Ako Aotearoa has published its second blog item:

A comprehensive guide to Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

 

Our blogs aim to highlight key areas and issues within the tertiary sector, provide the most up to date responses and foster sector collaboration. 

UDL is a framework aimed at creating inclusive and flexible learning environments by offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. Visit our website to read more.

Literacy and Numeracy Educator awards 

Ako Aotearoa and the Manako team are excited to announce that nominations are now open for New Zealand's first Literacy and Numeracy Educator awards.

 

These awards have been created in honour of the late Dr Judy Paterson and Dr Sue Dymock, both of whom made significant contributions to the field of literacy and numeracy.

 

Learn more on our website. Nominations close 5 pm on 30 June. 

Literacy and numeracy awards

Central Regional Forum highlights

Central Regional Forum hero shot

Central Sector Services Manager, Christina Crews, was thrilled to host staff from 27 different tertiary organisations at the Central Regional Forum in Palmerston North on 3 April. 

 

A particular highlight included a group of Students from the ITS All-Sorts Team who kicked off the event with a beautiful adaptation of ‘Te Aroha’. This set the stage for a day of engaging discussions and presentations.

 

Read news item.

PLD theme for May | Pacific leadership principles

Our PLD theme for May will help educators to better connect and engage with their Pasifika learners.

 

This three-workshop series focuses on key Pacific Leadership Principles. 

  • Tautua ia tautua - Serving to serve
  • Tautua ia pule - Serving to lead
  • Pule ia tutua - Leading to serve

Purchase workshops individually or book all three together to receive 25% off. 

Find out more

Pacific leadership

Upcoming professional development 

One-on-one coaching

Launch of the MCC March 2025

The Māori Cultural Coaching courses consists of five courses, each focused on a different Māori value to help enhance your teaching practice. Each course consists of approximately 10 hours of online, self-directed learning and is supported by a Māori cultural coach, who is available for one-on-one online meetings and fortnightly drop-in sessions.

  • Māori cultural coaching | Ako Course
  • Māori cultural coaching | Manaakitanga Course
  • Māori cultural coaching | Rangatiratanga Course
  • Māori cultural coaching | Whanaungatanga Course
  • Māori cultural coaching | Wairuatanga course

The required completion time for each course is six weeks from time of registration. Enrolments close 31 October. 

Learn more

PLD schedule

Northern Regional Forum 2025

8 May

Ako Aotearoa Northern Regional Forum in Auckland focused on cultivating thought leadership and excellence in teaching | shaping the future of education.

**Selling fast!**

 

Te Tiriti o Waitangi - a Visual History (non-Māori)

9 May

This workshop provides a foundational understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi for non-Māori, covering its historical context, colonisation impacts, and current relevance in tertiary education policy. (9:00 am – 1:00 pm).

 

Applying Equity in Tertiary Education

23 May

This online interactive workshop will explore approaches to addressing equity issues in the tertiary education sector to enable participants to create a personal strategy for addressing equity issues. One x 3-hour session (9:00 am – 12:30 pm).

Professional learning schedule
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Ako Aotearoa, c/o Massey University, Wallace Street, Mt Cook, Wellington 6021, New Zealand, 0800 692 566

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