News FeedTe Ara Whakamana Programme Now Available
A range of New Zealand researchers, practitioners, and officials will present on both strategic and practice-oriented topics. We are also particularly delighted to be joined by two international speakers: Professor John Polesel of the University of Melbourne and Dr Gary Hoachlander of ConnectED: The California Center for College and Career.
International Keynote Presenters
Professor Polesel’s presentation will discuss Australia’s approach to vocational education and training, identifying valuable lessons for New Zealand. Drawing on research into the experiences of young people, John will argue that there is a central problem with the perceived status of vocational education pathways, and that this needs to be addressed to make these pathways more effective.
Dr Hoachlander’s presentation will describe the concept of ‘linked learning’, as used extensively throughout California. In this model, secondary students choose among pathways in fields as diverse as engineering, arts and media, or biomedicine and health, which link strong academic content with demanding professional/ technical education and ‘real world’ experience. Implementing linked learning has led to higher graduation rates, increased postsecondary enrolments, and greater civic engagement amongst Californian students.
Other Programme Content
In addition to Professor Polesel and Dr Hoachlander, the programme for Te Ara Whakamana includes plenary and concurrent sessions from a variety of New Zealand experts in the transitions space. These will include sessions examining research and official data on young people’s experiences of transitions, and key strategic issues such as:
- how we can ensure successful transitions for Māori and pacific youth
- pathways and transitions in STEM subjects
- how to improve collaboration between secondary and tertiary sectors
Practice-focused sessions will include case studies on supporting learners through their first year of tertiary study, using pre-enrolment conversations to facilitate transitions, and preparing secondary students to learn in the workplace.
Sessions from the Ministry of Education will cover the implementation of vocational pathways, including support for uptake and delivery, and the Youth Guarantee suite of initiatives.
To register and for further information on Te Ara Whakamana: Pathways, transitions and bridges to tertiary education, please go to http://akoaotearoa.ac.nz/ako-aotearoa/events/te-ara-whakamana
Registrations close on June 29, with earlybird registration closing on May 25.
Update on Manukau Institute of Technology’s July National Symposium “Developing Pathways: Leading Students to Success”
Thursday 23 June 2011
Press Release: Manukau Institute of Technology
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) has announced the Keynote Speakers for the National Symposium, “Developing Pathways: Leading Students to Success” which will take place on July 18 and 19 at MIT’s campus in Otara, Auckland.
Keynote Speakers include:
Director of the Center for Educational Policy Research (CEPR) and Professor, David Conley from the University of Oregon who completed groundbreaking research to identify the knowledge and skills necessary for college readiness, named the Standards of Success. He published, 'College Knowledge: What It Takes for Students to Succeed; What We Can Do to Get Them Ready and College and Career Ready'.
Deputy CEO of Whitireia Community Polytechnic Arthur Graves has been a secondary principal in the past and has recently worked with the Ministry of Education on the Youth Guarantee Policy. He was also a previous Chair of the New Zealand Principals’ Council.
Dr Stuart Middleton, Director MIT Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways, is well known as an education commentator and is strongly involved in the field of transitions from secondary to post-secondary education. He developed the Tertiary High School at MIT in 2010 and also established the Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways, which will develop as a centre of excellence supporting initiatives which better link schools to post-secondary education and training.
This symposium will offer an opportunity for educators to get up-to-date information about developments such as trades academies and service academies, other successful programmes such as tertiary high schools and Trades in School, and policies such as Youth Guarantee.
- What is possible within existing frameworks?
- How can secondary schools and tertiary providers work together?
- What will bring more success to increased numbers of young people?
The symposium will give participants an opportunity to meet and hear from those actually delivering innovative programmes at the interface between secondary and tertiary education, leaders in the fields of engagement and multiple pathways and from those at the leading edge of future development.
First national symposium hopes to improve student success through multiple educational pathways.
Monday 11 April 2011
Press Release: Manukau Institute of Technology
Manukau Institute of Technology’s (MIT) National Symposium, “Developing Pathways: Leading Students to Success” in July 2011 will invite educators and policy-makers to engage in conversation surrounding secondary/post-secondary transitions, receive an overview of what is already underway in New Zealand and enable participants to share responses to these over the two days.
MIT’s Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways Director, Dr Stuart Middleton, believes it is imperative to examine innovative pathways to increase student engagement, retention in education and ultimately improve their preparation for a rapidly changing workplace. In New Zealand 20% of our 16 year olds and many more 17-24 year olds are not in education, employment or training.
Dr Stuart Middleton commented, "There is a lot happening in New Zealand to create new pathways from secondary school into post-secondary courses and qualifications. The symposium is an ideal opportunity for people to get an accurate picture of what is happening, who is doing what, and a chance to listen to and speak with those who are trying to work in different ways.
The Manukau Institute of Technology Tertiary High School was an early programme to provide a new pathway for students to get tertiary qualifications. The symposium, to be held at the Tertiary High School in Otara, Auckland, will explore this and other developments such as Trades Academies, Service Academies and other developments."
Taking place over two days, Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th July, it will be the first ever national symposium on the creation of individual and flexible learning pathways for students and will include many keynote speakers including Dr Stuart Middleton.
The discussions will be ongoing through the Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways and hopes to contribute toward the sharing of knowledge and expertise between educators and to work alongside others to achieve the ultimate goal of keeping more students better engaged in education and in doing so provide them with a more positive and productive future.
The symposium is an ideal opportunity for those committed to change and to learn from the experiences of others.
Innovative Centre to Improve Student Success
Monday 8 November 2010, 2:03 pm
Press Release: Manukau Institute of Technology
MIT Launches Innovative Centre to Improve Student Success
It’s no secret that New Zealand has a high rate of student disengagement from education. At least 20% of our young people are not involved in education, employment or training.
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) has created an innovative centre designed to promote understanding around the issues of disengagement, to articulate a variety of pathways through school and tertiary education, and increase student participation which ultimately leads to better success in both training and employment.
The Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways seeks to align both employers’ and students’ needs through events such as seminars conferences and international symposiums.
Centre Director, Dr. Stuart Middleton, says it’s imperative we act now to re-engage our young students.
“We have established the Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways in order to continue to develop responses to the issues of students who are not responding in conventional settings,” Dr. Middleton explains.
Multiple Pathways, put simply, means the creation of individual and flexible learning pathways for students which are both academic and vocational.
MIT is already taking the lead in this type of educational programme with the establishment of the School of Secondary-Tertiary Studies, which blends a traditional secondary programme with trades-based learning at a tertiary level.
“We are very encouraged in the way that young people are responding to the opportunities offered by the Tertiary High School” says Dr. Middleton. “I am excited at the general mood for change that is emerging in New Zealand around pathways for young people that can lead to success educationally and in terms of finding employment.”
MIT launches the Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways on 12 November.