Equity News & Events
Events to promote equity are held throughout the year, both centrally in the University and in all faculties. These help ensure that all staff and students are given all possible opportunities to succeed at the University.
Kevin Hague
Green Party MP
February 13th 2012
Kia ora koutou
In support of a vision for a more inclusive culture where sexual orientation, gender identity and expression are acknowledged and respected, a hui will be held at The University of Auckland.
The day long event will commence with a whakatau (welcome and opening address) by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, The University of Auckland. This will be followed by a presentation by Green MP Kevin Hague. There will be time for networking, research presentations plus a panel discussion facilitated by University of Auckland PhD student; James Burford.
Panel discussions will include challenging heteronormativity in tertiary education - barriers and interventions, queer/straight alliances, national perspectives and initiatives.
Attendees will be given the opportunity to collaborate and discuss ways in which they and their interest groups can support and advance the aims presented.
The event, which is a Faculty of Education Rainbow Staff initiative is aimed at raising the visibility and profile of queer staff and students in tertiary education in Aotearoa.
Professor Stuart McCutcheon.
November 29th 2011
Pacific success in the international spotlight at EOPHEA conference
The University’s Fale Pasifika set a fine and fitting stage for the Vice-Chancellor to highlight Pacific success at The University of Auckland in his keynote address at the recent Equal Opportunities Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia (EOPHEA) conference.
The biennial gathering brings together equity practitioners, university and other tertiary education providers who work in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific region.
Professor McCutcheon’s presentation, “Pacific Success: From community outreach, recruitment and retention to academic success”, was warmly received by the 150-strong delegation and clearly demonstrated the numerous ways in which the University proactively engages with, and positively impacts, achievement among Māori and Pacific students.
Noting that 40% of New Zealand’s Pacific graduates are from The University of Auckland, the Vice-Chancellor said he was proud that the University’s alumni include such esteemed Pacific leaders as the current Prime Minister of Samoa, as well as cabinet ministers and parliamentarians of various South Pacific countries, including New Zealand.
The positive response to the Vice-Chancellor’s presentation made clear the University is providing strong leadership and commitment to Pacific success prior to, during, and after tertiary study. As a result of the EOPHEA conference, senior members of the The University of Auckland have been invited to meet with colleagues at various Australasian universities to further discuss equity initiatives at their own institutions.
Read more about Pacific at the University
Read more about the University’s Pacific doctoral support programme, SPEAR
Academics gathered at The University of Auckland for the Educating for Equity Project.
December 13th 2011
An international gathering of academics from Australia, Canada and Aotearoa/New Zealand was recently held at the University’s Waipapa Marae.The meeting was part of the Educating for Equity project, a research collaboration funded by the International Collaborative Indigenous Health Research Partnership (ICIHRP).
The project commenced in 2010 and seeks to strengthen co-operation in Indigenous health and education through sharing of knowledge, theory, experiences, ideas and resources. A major focus will be investigating innovative approaches to indigenous health teaching and learning in the area of chronic disease, with a view to improving the wellbeing of indigenous peoples in each country.
A highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the three countries to resolve ways of working together that can help to realise mutual benefits. Included in the agreement title was a Māori proverb, which summed up the collaborative nature of the project,
“Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi.” With your basket and my basket, the people will live.
The project’s lead investigator, Dr Rhys Jones, reflected enthusiastically on the meeting. “It is a privilege to be part of such an amazing team, and it was an honour to be able to host our international colleagues in Aotearoa. I am excited about the next four years and am confident that we can contribute to advancing Indigenous health outcomes.”
Research tells us - we can’t just intervene at one point to enhance equity group success.
The University of Auckland makes a difference to achieving equity outcomes for students and staff in the University
and for people throughout New Zealand. We do this by contributing at each of the following stages of the cycle through our research, teaching and learning.
Equity Cycle (66 KB PDF)
