This page provides an overview of the range of topics presented by the Manako Programme webinars in 2025.  

 

February |  Dyscalculia – Using research to improve practice

Dr Damon Whitten presented a fun, thoughtful exploration into the world of dyscalculia and the amazing people who dwell there!

Dr Whitten shared the results of his research and talked about several research-backed strategies that can be implemented within tertiary providers and workplaces.

Adults with dyscalculia are highly vulnerable in the tertiary sector, and unfortunately rarely supported. Research in 2024 revealed that dyscalculic adults regularly faced a range of day-to-day challenges, education challenges, and workplace challenges that impacted them emotionally, personally and economically. These included negative beliefs about themselves, ongoing learning challenges and major difficulties in the workplace. Yet, these adults were highly intelligent, capable and creative.

 

March | Funding Change Projects in the Tertiary Education Sector

At this presentation, Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA) Manager Dr. Marvin Hao Wu presented information on the AARIA Fund and discussed how AARIA could impact foundation education and could be of interest to the community.

The AARIA Fund for innovative, ako centred research projects aimed to contribute to systems change for the tertiary education sector and more equitable learner outcomes:

• equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific and neurodiverse ākonga
• a response to current global and local issues of importance, e.g. technological advances for instance A.I. and online learning
• improved systems and processes to support best practice tertiary education that focus on whole of organisational leadership and change to deliver the outcomes above, including organisational culture and design, the use of data to support planning and action and review, and the connection between the organisation and its wider partners (such as iwi, industry and community).

Dr Marvin Hao Wu is the Ako Aotearoa Programme Manager, Research and Innovation. He oversees the Research and Innovation portfolio at Ako Aotearoa to ensure the effective strategic planning, decision making, and management of research projects, and contribute to team leadership and stakeholder relationship management. Dr Wu and his team launched the AARIA Contestable Fund in September 2023. 

 

April | Informal yet impactful – Peer brokering among international students

This webinar, with Dr Sherrie Lee, presented the findings of research on brokering practices among international students at a New Zealand university.

The focused ethnography research shows that peer brokering often occurs among students of similar ethno-lingual backgrounds and involves timely, supportive exchanges. These interactions help students exercise agency and improve their academic experience. To enhance international students’ employability, the study suggests that educators should facilitate targeted and regular opportunities for international students to connect with experienced peers, such as through networking events and mentorship programs.

Dr Lee is a Career Consultant at Victoria University of Wellington. Sherrie has a career portfolio that spans education, policy implementation and stakeholder engagement. She has worked in the public sector in New Zealand, and was a conflict management trainer and business communications lecturer in Singapore where she is from. 

 

May | Fostering belonging: The power of teamwork in teaching

This webinar with Jo Ward delved into research from early childhood centres in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, highlighting how fostering a sense of belonging among kaiako (teachers) can have positive effects within the teaching environment.

A strong sense of belonging empowers kaiako, leading to more engaged and responsible teachers, and have a positive ripple effect on children's learning and well-being.

Although based in early childhood centres, these insights are applicable across the entire education sector. Join this webinar to learn more about this research along with actionable strategies to foster a sense of belonging in your own educational settings.

Jo Ward is an experienced early childhood teacher with over 25 years of experience. Currently, Jo is a lecturer at Te Rito Maioha: Early Childhood New Zealand. Recently, Jo completed a Master's in Education, with a thesis exploring the importance of belonging for teachers from minority cultures. Passionate about inclusion for both teachers and children, Jo is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive educational environment, and children with social and emotional competence.

 

June | Financial wellbeing and remittances

This webinar with presenter Pale Sauni featured a deep dive into Pacific Financial Wellbeing and explored some of the challenges that Pacific people navigate in order to set our sails toward financial independence.

Pale talked about Pacific cultural obligations including church, extended family, weddings, funerals, birthdays, missionary support and remittance commitments. Because they all require prioritising in terms of financial managing, we need to unpack these and enhance our collective understanding as to why prioritising can help or hinder Pacific student success in tertiary education.

Pale Sauni is Ako Aotearoa’s Pacific Priorities and Cultural Leader, Pale was born in Samoa and has had all his formal education in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is a highly experienced workshop facilitator focusing on a range of topics to better engage with Pacific communities and learners.

 

July | An inclusion revolution – Scoping a neurodivergent quality mark for the workplace

In this webinar presenter Annette van Lamoen will share the findings of a project to scope the development of a Neurodivergent-Friendly Quality Mark (NFQM) for workplaces in Aotearoa New Zealand. This project was initiated in response to the growing awareness of the systemic barriers many neurodivergent employees face and the pressing need for inclusive work environments.

Too often, neurodivergent employees have been regarded as a ‘problem’ or ‘not fitting in’. We need to flip the script and recognise the barriers presented by work systems and cultures. If we want to make the most of the value neurodivergent people add to an organisation, we may need to ‘revolutionise’ workplaces in terms of the way we recruit and manage staff and how we expect them to perform their work tasks.

The project included a review of national and international research and stakeholder consultation to identify effective practices in creating inclusive, barrier-free workplaces.

In this webinar we will discuss:

• the benefits of neurodivergent-friendly workplaces
• challenges experienced by neurodivergent people at work
• feedback from employers, employees, and experts on current gaps and needs
• inclusive workplace practices
• recommendations for the development of a robust NFQM framework.

 

August | Adding impact – The role of research-informed teaching

There is much talk about using research to guide policy and programmes. While it is now integral to most professions such as medicine and engineering, the record of sectors such as adult literacy and numeracy (ALN) is patchy at best.

Why is there so little overlap between how teachers teach and research findings? How can we increase this overlap and thereby increase the impact of our programmes for learners?

This session with presenter John Benseman explores these questions and proposes some ways to increase research-informed practice not only for ALN teachers but also programme organisers and administrators.

John Benseman has worked in adult literacy and related fields for over 45 years, primarily as a researcher and evaluator in the sector, but also as a teacher and administrator. John has a PhD in historical development of lifelong learning in New Zealand with a particular focus on adult teaching and learning. 

 

About the Manako Programme Webinar series

Each month the Ako Aotearoa Manako programme offers a free webinar featuring subject matter experts around topics that support educators working with adult learners.

Further information can be found on the Manako Communities of Practice Facebook groups. If you're not already a member, you're invited to join.