Building on strong foundations

Ako Aotearoa's ALNACC programme of work started in 2018, building on the foundation of the work of the National Centre of Literacy and Numeracy for Adults and the He Taunga Waka programme.

We were tasked with developing a new model for building capability in the foundation education workforce. Since the development of this model we have supported the tertiary education sector in many ways, complementing professional learning and development courses and workshops with the facilitation of Communities of Practice and the development of resources, including:

• Māori Cultural Capability Pathway
• Pacific Cultural Centredness Pathway
• Adult Literacy and Numeracy Effective Practice Model
• Learner Agency thinkpiece (PDF, 1.5MB)

In addition, our innovative whole-organisation approaches to capability building are transforming the way educators support learners and create inclusive learning and teaching environments:

• Te Tohu Kounga Whakarata Tīpaopaotanga – The New Zealand Dyslexia-Friendly Quality Mark
• Tapatoru Ako Professional Practice Award

Manako: a new name with learners at the centre 

From the start, the ALNACC acronym was a placeholder to indicate that our mahi focused on building cultural capability alongside capability in adult literacy and numeracy education. Over the years, the work of our ALNACC team has evolved, in response to sector need, and we’ve been looking for a fitting name that better reflects the scope of our work, as we work towards a brighter future for all learners.

The name ‘Manako’ is sourced from te ao Māori/the Māori world and means ‘aspiration’ and ‘hope’.

We work with educators in tertiary foundation education to inspire them to be the best they can be, so that they, in turn, can spark hope in their learners, encourage them to aim high, and support them in achieving their aspirations.

For us, Manako has a dual meaning, as it also encompasses the two cultural concepts of Mana (prestige, authority, status, charisma) and Ako (learning and teaching). Our work is about learner-centred teaching, focused on respecting, valuing and embracing the Mana of our learners through Ako, the reciprocal process of teaching and learning. The concept of Ako is central to the work of Ako Aotearoa, and is reflected in the dual lines of our logo.

Meet the Manako team »

A bright future

Since our inception in 2018 our work has grown in a number of directions and we are excited about what the future might bring. We will continue to work alongside educators and organisations to support them in achieving the Tertiary Education Strategy objectives, with new resources developed on digital literacy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

The challenges faced by learners across Aotearoa need to be addressed, and we've been advocating for positive policy changes to enhance learner success, through our recent White Paper and Productivity Commission submissions. We will continue to collaborate with government and key stakeholders to inform their work and achieve the vision of success for all learners.