Teachers Conference 2026

Our Teachers Conference recognises the important role high school teachers play in their students’ post-secondary pathways. We’re committed to sharing programme information and tertiary insights to ensure informed course design and pathway advice at the secondary level.

This is also an opportunity for teachers to gain greater awareness of study areas beyond their own subjects, supporting their wider role as form teachers and academic advisers.

To recognise the extra travel and accommodation costs faced by educators outside Auckland, ticket prices have been heavily subsidised to help make attendance more accessible.

This is a two‑day event, with faculties grouped as follows. 

Conference objectives:

• Show how school foundation skills connect to university programmes.
• Explain the structure and content of offered papers.
• Highlight the importance of specific subjects for certain pathways.
• Strengthen relationships between schools and the University.

Both days follow the same schedule of events. The workshops will cover a range of topics in relation to the conference objectives and the faculties of the day - these are concurrently delivered, with attendees able to select three workshops across the day.

Secondary–Tertiary Learner Success Insights 
Katalina Ma, Pathway Programmes Manager

Katalina Ma brings a unique perspective shaped by her experience as a former Head of Mathematics and senior secondary leader, alongside her current role leading learner success programmes at the University of Auckland. She oversees initiatives including Pacific Academy, on track to support over 1,000 Māori and Pacific students this year, and co-founded the nationally recognised Math Challenge competition. In 2025, she was formally acknowledged for her work partnering with Auckland schools to advance University Entrance parity for Māori and Pacific learners. 

In this keynote, Katalina will share data-driven insights into learner success, with a focus on what makes the greatest difference during the secondary years. She will highlight how course and subject design in schools shape student readiness, pathway access, and success beyond school. 

Teachers will gain practical insights to support subject planning, strengthen secondary–tertiary transitions, and better enable learners to succeed in further study. 

Programme details: Medical and Health Sciences, Science, Engineering and Design  

Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences

From 2027, undergraduate health study at the University of Auckland has been redesigned to better reflect the evolving health landscape and workforce needs. Sessions will provide an overview of the new degree structure, refreshed programmes, and specialised health majors, highlighting how students can enter with broader choice, navigate clearer progression pathways, and access tailored academic support.

Teachers will gain insight into how science and mathematics underpin success in key health disciplines, alongside a clear overview of first-year study and programme expectations -supporting informed subject selection and preparation for competitive health pathways. 

What you can expect:

• Pathways into Health: What's changing in 2027? – Associate Professor Laura Wilkinson-Meyers.
• Bachelor of Biomedical Science Programme: Alan Davidson

Science

The Bachelor of Science offers flexible pathways across disciplines including Earth, Chemical, Computational, Human, Life, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences. Sessions will provide a clear overview of first-year study, including the structure and content of core papers.

Teachers will hear directly from academics about the skills and knowledge students are expected to bring, and how school subject choices shape pathways within science, supporting stronger secondary–tertiary transitions and student preparedness.

What you can expect:

• First Year Maths at UoA - Dr Nicolette Rattenbury
• Introducing the new Bachelor of Psychology - Dr Joan Leung
• Future-ready undergraduate programmes in the Faculty of Science - Associate Professor Murray Ford
• Stage One Statistics - Emma Lehrke

Engineering & Design

Engineering, Architecture, Urban Planning, and Design offer pathways focused on solving complex real-world challenges. Sessions will outline degree structures, first-year study, and available specialisations across these disciplines.

Teachers will gain insight into what students learn, and the skills expected on entry, including the critical role of Mathematics and Physics for engineering. Sessions will also address declining participation in key subjects and what this means for student access, success, and future career opportunities. 

What you can expect:

• Engineering: Chemical Materials -  Vonne Van Heeswijk
• Supporting Girls into Engineering Pathways: The Bigger Picture - Dulsha Kularatna-Abeywardana
• Learning how to learn by self-assessment: Improving STEM students' preparedness for tertiary education - Dr Yuanyuan Hu
• Designing a Flourishing Future Through Creativity, Community and Innovation - Ayla Hoeta
• Shaping our Cities - What It Means to Be an Urban Planner - Dr Iresh Jayawardena
• Women in Engineering - Unayza Nabijan

Programme details: Arts & Education, Business & Economics, Law 

Arts & Education

The Faculty of Arts and Education offers diverse pathways across humanities, social sciences, creative arts, teaching, sport, and health. Over the past two years, Arts enrolments have grown, reflecting renewed student interest in disciplines that build critical thinking, communication, and cultural understanding - contributing to a thoughtful, informed, and culturally rich society. 

Attendees will gain insight into the content and expectations of first-year courses. Teachers should feel better equipped to have informed subject advising conversations, with a strong value proposition for Arts and Education pathways.

What you can expect:

• Leading change through sport, health and physical education – Associate Professor Rod Philpot
• The Human Edge: Why the Bachelor of Arts mattesr now more than ever - Dr Alex McAuley

Law

The Bachelor of Laws provides a structured programme that builds a broad foundation in legal knowledge, reasoning, and practice. Sessions will give teachers a clear overview of the degree, including compulsory core courses and the role of electives in the later years.

These sessions invite teachers to consider how communication, analytical, and cultural, capabilities are fostered at school, and how they prepare students to engage with legal study in an Aotearoa New Zealand context. It will also introduce core concepts of legal ethics, professional responsibility, and the role of law in shaping a just and equitable society.

What you can expect:

• From Classroom to career: employment law for the next generation - Simon Schofield
• How to decide to study law/Experiencing a criminal law class: "when can you eat your shipmantes?" (a real case) - Professor Scott Optican
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Across Languages, Cultures, and the Country - Theodore Baker-Jones

Business & Economics 

Sessions will provide an overview of undergraduate degrees in Business and Property, including programme structure, first-year study, and the range of majors and career pathways available.

Teachers will gain insight into the new Business core, where students engage in real-world challenges and explore different roles across industries. Sessions will highlight how Mathematics underpins success in areas such as finance, economics, and analytics, alongside pathways such as Human Resources and Business Analytics, supporting informed subject selection and preparation for a rapidly evolving business environment. 

What you can expect:

• Bachelor of Commerce: Programme Structure, Flexibility and Core Courses– Associate Dean Academic, Sue Laurenson
• AI and Technology Showcase – Using technology in teaching – Management & International Business Fellow Guy Bate & Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Sean Kelly.
• About the HRM Major - Dr. Deepika Jindal
• Studying Business Analytics - Andrew Eberhard
• Maths as a foundation for Accounting, Finance, and Economics - Justin Case

In 2024, we delivered our first Teachers Conference targeting secondary STEM educators. The two-day event was attended by 80 educators, with a 31% survey response rate.

Feedback was highly positive. Educators rated the conference as interesting (4.44/5), informative (4.25), and highly valuable for their professional development (4.50). Overall, the talks were rated excellent, with an average score of 4.44.