STUDENT SUPPORT
Teaching, Learning and Research
Te Ara Kōtihi is our values-based strategy that provides structure, principles and the goals to ensure we are all working as a collective
Te Ara Kōtihi
At academyEX, our teaching and learning strategy, Te Ara Kōtihi, enables us to work together as a collective, with the learner at the centre of our organisation, and also helps us bring our values to life in everything we do.
Teaching, Learning and Research are at the heart of everything that we do at academyEX, guided by our strategy Te Ara Kōtihi.
AcademyEX is a unique learning experience because we take the best aspects of academia and pair that with new ways of thinking about postgraduate education that enables more people to see their potential.
We speak about ‘facilitating learning’ for professionals as they are already experts in their own context and practice. You don’t always need a formal qualification to enrol in our programmes - professional life experience can be equivalent. At academyEX you’ll meet Advisors, not supervisors; assessments are framed as an opportunity for you to apply your learning and enhance its value through critical feedback. For real impact that reaches beyond an individual, we make it possible for you to co-construct your learning goals and outcomes with us to maximise the value of your learning for not just yourself but your organisation or community. Assessments are about the application of learning and getting feedback from faculty and industry experts to support you to continue developing your ideas and practice beyond our programmes.
OUR TEACHING & LEARNING STRATEGY
Te Ara Kōtihi
Koru / fern frond
Our learners – the centre of everything we do, as well as human potential, growth, relationships and conversations, all of which are unique to our organisation.
Niho taniwha / teeth of the taniwha
Our organisation – our teams, staff, teachers, structures, processes and delivery, which all exist to support our learners.
Kōtihi / summit
Our success – what we are striving for, which is all of us working as a collective, combining our skills and knowledge, to create value and better outcomes for all our learners.
Te Ara Kōtihi – our strategy
Te Ara Kōtihi means ‘the pathway to success‘ and it’s an organisation-wide strategy that provides structure, principles and high level goals to ensure we are all working as a collective.
The tohu depicted here was designed for us by Trish Francis, and the whakataukī (proverb) she had in mind was:
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi
With your food basket and my food basket we will thrive
This whakataukī highlights the importance of having a shared purpose and making a contribution to ensure that we thrive as a collective.
Te Ara Kōtihi means ‘the pathway to success‘ and it’s an organisation-wide strategy that provides structure, principles and high level goals to ensure we are all working as a collective.
The tohu depicted above was designed for us by Trish Francis, and the whakataukī (proverb) she had in mind was
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi With your food basket and my food basket we will thrive
This proverb highlights the importance of having a shared purpose and making a contribution to ensure that we thrive as a collective.
Framing our strategy are our mātou mātāpono, the values that drive our practice and underpin everything that we do.
Manaaki
We nurture and care for staff and learners in our various activities and learning spaces through our conversations, knowledge sharing, and supporting the wellbeing of all. We embrace difference and respect everyone’s values and include everyone, no matter their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, religious beliefs, disability, political opinion or employment status, in all the places and spaces we interact in.
Rangatiratanga
We respect diverse talents and ways of learning; we will support all students to express their learning in ways that are diverse and sustaining to their culture. We acknowledge our cultural heritage and explicitly support Māori and Pacific staff and learners to achieve at the highest levels.
Ako
We believe effective, reciprocal teaching interactions and strong positive relationships are fostered through knowledge exchange. We foster collaborative and effective teaching and learning environments.
Pono
We are all accountable and responsible for our actions – there is transparency, truth, integrity and honesty in everything that we do. We are transparent about the way we make decisions, carefully consider those who might be affected by these decisions, and the impact of these decisions on others.
Positive relationships are at the centre of our philosophy and values for teaching and learning. As a collective, the following organisational kaupapa Māori values drive our practice, and underpin everything we do here:
HELPING YOU SUCCEED
What this means for our learners
Te Ara Kōtihi helps us ensure, across our programmes and all the teams and initiatives we undertake at academyEX, that we are all aiming for the same goal – success for you, our learners as you undertake professional development with us.
Principles
Our principles and values guide us to define, develop and maintain high quality teaching and learning that has measurable value to all our learners, their communities and industries.
Strategy
Our strategy enables us to work together to deliver teaching and learning that is culturally responsive, sustainable and research-informed, with teaching staff actively engaged in practice-relevant research.
Support
Our strategy provides the base for our student support initiatives, such as ManaakiFono, He Rourou, and Tuia Te Kupu, ensuring the appropriate structures are in place to enable your success.
All Stages
It helps those currently learning with us, those who have learned with us in the past, and those who want to learn with us, understand how we do things around here and what to expect when you interact with any one of our team.
OUR RESEARCH
Research Informed Teaching and Learning
As part of our commitment to high-quality teaching and learning, research is an important part of our practice. Our faculty are research active, and often publish their work in a wide range of forums.
Research at academyEX reflects the principles of Te Ara Kōtihi, is conducted to the highest ethical standards, aligns with our vision of impacting our learners and enhances our reputation as a research active postgraduate education provider.
Faculty and students are supported to be involved in quality research in collaboration with others across sectors, in specialist disciplines, transdisciplinary teams and with community and industry. Our contributions to both academia and industry are shared through academic journals, conference presentations and workshops, blogs, and industry reports, as well as our very own e-Press, He Rourou.
