Changing Practice to Achieve Pacific Success

21 April 2023

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Changing Practice to Achieve Pacific SuccessTavita Filemoni*, John Horrocks, Lisa Wong, Seann Paurini, Arden Perrot, Manaini Cama, Aleeshea Reid

Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Fund

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Overview of Presentation

Introduction and Context

Research Question

Methodology

Interim Findings

Summary and Discussion

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Pacific Learners in Tertiary Education

Tertiary Education Strategies Lifting the achievement of Pacific learners is a goal in the latest New Zealand

Tertiary Education Strategies (TES)

Pacific Learner Strategy documents published by TEC, NZQA, Ministry of Education

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Pacific Learners in Tertiary Education

Requirements for success - previous research Institutional commitment to Pacific Learners and Pacific-centric teaching and

learning relationships are required (Chu et al, 2013)

Community involvement acknowledged as a contributor to success (TESs)

Investigation of Pacific Policy in Tertiary Institutions - commissioned by Ako Aotearoa (Horrocks et al, 2012)

Success for all: Improving Maori and Pasifika student success in degree-level studies. (Airini et al, 2010).

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Pacific Trades Initiative Established

Pacific Trades Initiative (PTI) established by TEC in 2011 to provide fee-free support for Pacific learners in the Trades

First cohort in 2012, 2nd cohort in 2013

WelTec became a PTI provider

WelTec uses this as an opportunity to drive change in how services and support are provided to this cohort of learners

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PTI Recruitment Process

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ConsultationFor Process

Promote PacificCommunities

Church MinistersDevelop Nomination

Forms

RecommendEnrolment

Work with Institutions

Church MinistersReceive

Nominations

Formal Assessment by

Institutions

Final ApprovalBy Church Ministers

Award Scholarships, Blessing & Orientation

Research Question

Purpose To inform better practice to improve retention and achievement for all Pacific Learners

Scope Teaching / Learning / Support practices

Pastoral practices

Community involvement

Literacy and Numeracy

Retention and completion

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What factors contribute to the success of PTI students at WelTec?

Methodology

Mixed Methods Approach Quantitative (TEC test scores, etc)

Qualitative (interviews)

Ethical approval obtained

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Methodology - Data Collected

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PROGRAMMEINFO

QUANTITATIVE

QUALITATIVE (interviews)

Church ministers

Staff

PTI students Tutors

Support

Management

TEC Tool Literacy

TEC Tool Numeracy

Numbers

Results

Ethical Approval obtained

Interim Findings

Students and Programme of study

Literacy and Numeracy Performance Indicators

Interviews (analysed to date)

Church ministers

PTI students

Tutors

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Programme Information

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Programme 2012 2013  Enrolments Passed Enrolments PassedCarpentry (L3) 

23 18 18 18

Landscape Construction (L4) 

10 7 0 0

Decorating (L3) 

4 4 2 1

Pre-Trade Painting (L2) 

12 10 1 0

Plumbing & Gasfitting (L3) 

11 7 15 10

Brick & Block Laying (L3)

5 4 2 2

Engineering – Fabrication (L3) 

0 0 3 1

Totals 65 50 41 32

Literacy and Numeracy Indicators

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LN Performance Indicators obtained using TEC Literacy & Numeracy Assessment Tool:

LN Percentage Assessed Indicator (Compliance) Indicator of %age of learners who received initial and progress assessments

Indication of institutional use of the Assessment Tool

LN Gain Indicator (Significant Gain) Indicator of difference between initial and progress scores where there is a statistically

significant gain

Indication of improvement in students’ literacy and numeracy

Literacy and Numeracy

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LN Percentage Assessed Indicator (Compliance)

LN Assessment Tool Measures

2012 2013

  Pacific Trades

All WelTec

Pacific Trades

All WelTec

Compliance (%) 

51 58 80.3 64.8

Increased compliance from: Greater student and tutor engagement

Students could see long-term benefits in improving LN

Students were informed and part of the assessment process

Literacy and Numeracy

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LN was embedded into course work and academic support in 2013 producing significant gains: 33% increase in Literacy, 11% increase in Numeracy.

Professional development give to tutors by LLN Advisor and co-teaching by LLN team and Learning Support tutors contributed to the improvement

LN Assessment Tool Measures

2012 2013

  Pacific Trades

All WelTec

Pacific Trades

All WelTec

Significant (Literacy) (%)

0 6.7 33 11.3

Significant (Numeracy) (%)

16 10.8 27 18.8

LN Gain Indicator (Significant Gain)

Interviews with Church ministers

“The vision of the Ministers’ Fraternal in Wellington [is] that we believe that we can improve our children’s education by working collaboratively with tertiary education [institutions]. It has been our vision right from the start and this is how we see a way where we could lead out people to success.”(Church minister 1)

“People contact and people knowledge, local knowledge, is always a much better way.”

(Church minister 2)

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Interviews with PTI students

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“He was just patient for the Pacific students to move on; not just be like builders but be owners. His morals were like real good; straight up. He told us what was on his mind and what he wanted us to be. I think that inspired me just to move on keep going.”

(Carpentry student about tutor.. and the aspiration for students to think ahead .. similar quotes from a Church minister.)

Interviews with tutors

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“Being Pacific Islanders is something to cherish and that’s why I say to the boys, “ The actions that we do today that will echo on through for the next generation of people that come along; they’ll see why we’re successful here and what we do they’ll model it around your actions, your attendance, what you do on the course and the things you’ve taken from the course.” So yeah I do ask a lot of the boys..”

(Carpentry tutor)

Factors contributing to success

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Visioning

Recruitment through community links

Staff as learners

The “push” – being directive

Pastoral care

Being part of a team

Visibility

Work readiness

Areas for improvement

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A Pacific strategy for WelTec

Further dialogue with Pacific ministers about their role in pastoral care during the students’ period of study

An expanded Pasifika Centre

An improved recruitment and selection process

Further support for initiatives such as the jobs passport

Holistic / Integrated Approach

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TutorsTutors

Learning Learning CommonsCommonsLearning Advisors, Learning Advisors, LLN Advisors, LLN Advisors, Career, Support, Career, Support, LibraryLibrary

Student MentorsStudent Mentors

CommunityCommunity InstitutionInstitution

Student MentorsStudent Mentors

Pacific Learner Journey to Success

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Community

Contributing to EconomyFamily, NZ, Pacific

WelTec

EmploymentWork environmentIndustryStudents

Acknowledgements

Interviewees who agreed to be part of this study

WelTec staff who have contributed to the Holistic/Integrated Approach and Pacific Learner success

Funding – Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Fund, WelTec Innovation & Research Grants Committee

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