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. 

Lightning Session example, what you can expect:
UG Health Changes: an introduction to all health pathways and the case for change – Associate Dean Academic, Associate Professor Laura Wilkinson-Meyers.

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.

Lightning Session example, what you can expect:
Student Panel – Science student perspectives on successful secondary-tertiary pathways.

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. 

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.

Lightning Session example, what you can expect:
An overview of first year Sport, Health, and Physical Education – Associate Professor Rod Philpot

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.

Lightning Session example, what you can expect:
Understanding New Zealand History, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Essential for Competence and Distinction as a Legal Practitioner – Senior Lecturer Jayden Houghton.  

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. 

Lightning Session examples, what you can expect:
Business 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.

In April we partnered with FMHS, Engineering, and Science to host a STEM Conference targeted to secondary educators. We had 80 secondary educators attend the 2-day conference and a 31.25% evaluation response.

Survey findings show that educators found the conference material to be interesting (4.44 average out of 5), informative (4.25), and extremely useful for their professional development (4.50). Global ratings indicate that the talks, overall, were excellent (4.44).