The National Disabled Students' Association often partakes in, and helps with research affecting disabled learners in Aotearoa.
Table of Contents
- Whiria Ngā Rau — Progressing from student voice to partnerships
- People’s Inquiry Into Student Wellbeing 2022
- Let's Get Accessible — inter-agency research project
Whiria Ngā Rau — Progressing from student voice to partnerships
The National Disabled Students’ Association took part in the development of Whiria Ngā Rau — Progressing from student voice to partnerships, a gift from students to the tertiary education sector. Whiria Ngā Rau draws from the whakataukī (proverb) Te rito o te harakeke, focused on whānau and the obligations to nurture, support, and awhi the next generation. The framework puts learners at the centre of their journeys in tertiary education, strengthened with mental, physical, and community support.
Whiria means to weave, and rau refers to the leaves. The framework has four rau that ākonga and providers can use to build partnerships:
- Whakapakari — strong student voice means involving ākonga in shaping an education system that works well for them and is equitable for all.
- Whakawhanaungatanga — the only people who know what it’s like to be a learner now are today’s ākonga.
- Akoranga — the concept of ako, learning from and with each other, is key to progressing from ākonga voice to true partnerships
- Mahitahi — ākonga partnership means recognising and directly involving learners’ ideas, experiences, questions, and concerns into decisions at all levels: from course development to service delivery.
Whiria Ngā Rau was developed by the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), Te Mana Ākonga, Tauira Pasifika, and the NDSA, with support from the Ministry of Education. It was widely adopted across the sector by institutions and tertiary education organisations who have made a commitment to authentic partnerships and including ākonga voice in their decision-making.
Where to read about Whiria Ngā Rau
- Whiria Ngā Rau booklet in English [PDF, opens in browser]
- Whiria Ngā Rau booklet in te reo Māori [PDF, opens in browser]
Please check back for alternative formats coming soon
Media and newsletter links
- Students Release Whiria Ngā Rau Framework, NZUSA press release 30th September 2021, Scoop Education.
- New Model for Student-Uni Collaboration Launched, Denzel Chung, 1st October 2021, Critic Te Ārohi
- Te Pūkenga Executive adopts partnership framework developed by learners, Te Pūkenga, March 1st 2022.
Other links mentioning the Whiria Ngā Rau framework
- Building a partnership with disabled learners — Achieve
- Preparing for success | Partnerships — Tertiary Education Commission
- Student partnerships — Lincoln University
- Tō te Ākonga Reo me te Mahi Ngātahi Kaupapa-here | Learner Voice and Partnering Policy — Te Pūkenga
- Moving from Student Voice to Agency: Sustainable Pedagogical Partnerships for Higher Education, Kathryn A. Sutherland, Irina Elgort, Ozzman Symes-Hull, & Claudia van Zijl (Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) published in The Bloomsbury Handbook of Student Voice in Higher Education
- Mechanisms that Capture and Incorporate Student Voice into Vocational Education and Training Design, Dr. Seth Brown, 14th August 2024, Young People’s Sustainable Futures Lab
People’s Inquiry Into Student Wellbeing 2022
We partnered with the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and NZUSA - New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, Te Mana Ākonga, and Tauira Pasifika to survey students to find out how they're coping amid rising living costs, poor rental quality, COVID-19, and other stressors.
The People's Inquiry into Student Wellbeing confirmed what we already know: students, especially disabled students, are suffering. We believe it is time for the Government and our society to do something about it.
Let's Get Accessible — inter-agency research project
The NDSA has been assisting with an inter-agency research project that aims to highlight the experiences of disabled learners in tertiary education in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
This project has been a collaboration between the National Disabled Students’ Association, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and the Tertiary Education Commission.
The key focus of this project has been to gather qualitative data that authentically represents the voices and lived experiences of disabled students in tertiary education. This was conducted through both an online survey, and focus groups across the country with students.
Literature review
This literature review was written by our research assistant Ash Beales, with support from the interagency team. This review brought a clear perspective to the background information at hand on the experiences of disabled students, and helped inform the following steps of the project: an online survey and focus groups.
Initial findings poster
This initial findings poster showcases a preview of the results of the research including the online survey and focus groups. Highlighting the most important findings. This poster represents a major milestone in showcasing clear data on the barriers faced by disabled students in tertiary education.
Key insights included:
Accessing support is difficult for many disabled students.
- Barriers to inclusion in the wider student experience are common.
- The power dynamics within tertiary providers make advocacy difficult for disabled students.
- Levels of support for disabled learners are inconsistent across their learning providers.
Final report
The final report is now available and can be found on the education counts website. We thank all the involved staff across NZQA, MOE and TEC for their collaboration and support on this project. The results can also be accessed in audio, braille and easy read formats.