What we do
The following are examples of the current Ako Aotearoa initiatives contributing to our ongoing commitment to tertiary teaching and learning:
National Project Fund – the NPF is a strategic change fund i.e. a fund that supports evidence-based change in teaching and learning practice for the benefit of learners. There are three major funding streams supporting projects of ~$100k: Research and Implementation Projects, Māori Initiative Projects, and Pacific Peoples’ Projects. Each stream has its own specific priority areas set on an annual basis. Total annual commitment for the fund is over $1 million.
Regional Hub Funding Scheme – supporting projects up to $10k with a regional focus. Established in October 2007 and managed through our three regional hubs, this fund supported its 100th tertiary teaching and learning project in mid 2010.
Collaboration – we believe that fostering purposeful effective collaborations across the tertiary sector is a key lever for strategic change. We have separate sponsorship and support funds to initiate new collaborations within the tertiary sector or provide resources to enable existing collaborations to step up a level.
Good Practice Publication Grants – identifying, celebrating and sharing organisational and individual/group examples of proven good practice in tertiary teaching and/or learning support.
Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards – celebrating our nation’s best teachers at a national level. Ako Aotearoa is committed to its management role for these awards, which have celebrated the efforts of more than 100 tertiary teachers since 2002.
Ako Aotearoa Academy for Tertiary Teaching Excellence – nationally recognised tertiary teachers fostering excellence in teaching and learning.
www.akoaotearoa.ac.nz – the Ako Aotearoa website connects tertiary practitioners and researchers to information about our organisation, people, activities, funding, news and events. Visitors can access the site’s Resource Centre for quality, practical resources to support tertiary teaching & learning.
Register on our site to:
- Connect and collaborate with others in our Project and Community groups
- Receive a monthly website bulletin
- Create your profile on the site.
Access our Research Register of current and recent New Zealand tertiary education research projects.
Research – through our funding and dissemination programmes, we are working to enhance the research capability and capacity within New Zealand’s tertiary education sector, with the aim of developing a much more coherent and accessible evidence base to inform enhanced practice.
Resources – we publish resources to support good practice in tertiary teaching and learning.
Workshops – we offer a growing range of relevant, practical workshops to assist tertiary teachers. Examples of topics include; sessions on strategic management of e-learning, how to apply for National Project Fund funding, the Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards application process, Teaching and learning for success for Māori in tertiary settings.
Absolute focus on improving the learner experience – in all we do, our focus is to achieve improved outcomes for learners. We regularly evaluate what we do in terms of the learner benefit achieved.