Ako Aotearoa

There are growing social and economic demands for graduates who can navigate the
uncertainty and complexity of rapidly transforming employment contexts.

Built on recent, international studies on graduate employability, and utilizing the Work Ready Plus Graduate Capability Framework, this report explored ways to develop key graduate capability items that are most relevant to graduate employability across five disciplines in a New Zealand tertiary education institution.

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A cross-disciplinary comparison of the approach to developing work ready plus graduates (PDF, 3Mb)

Background:

A two-year research project, completed in 2020, examining the employability of graduates within five programmes of study, including the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Level 3); the Diploma in Early Childhood Teaching (Level 5-6); the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Level 5-7); the Graduate Diploma in Health studies (Level 7); and the Master in Management (Level 9).

Research report prepared by Qilong Zhang.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF)

University graduates need to be equipped for an uncertain and rapidly changing world and for changes in the nature of work.

This report details an efficient means of embedding ‘future-ready’ capabilities in advanced and research-informed university courses.

It include a pedagogical framework to guide learning designers and teachers who are embedding employability within degree programmes.

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Future ready graduates (PDF, 3Mb)

Background:

A two-year research project, completed in 2020, to discover, trial and share effective and efficient ways of embedding employability in the curriculum. A collaboration between the University of Auckland, University of Otago and the New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers.

Research report produced by Susan Geertshuis and Narissa Lewis.

Counselling students’ perceptions of counsellor education and beyond

This report investigated how different elements of the counsellor education and professional development workshops prepared participants for future work.

It offers recommendations for how counsellor development programme content can be made more relevant to the requirements of private practice.

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Employability and Professional Development: Counselling Students’ Perceptions of Counsellor Education and Beyond (PDF, 500Kb)

Background:

A project completed in 2009, undertaken by Massey University, to examine the extent to which students who had completed a postgraduate distance counsellor education programme were prepared for: continuing development as reflective practitioners; professional employment; and gaining professional membership and appropriate progression in the guidance and counselling field.

Research report prepared by Jeannie Wright and Brent Gardiner.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF)

This report details how nursing students responded to the introduction of clinical simulations in teaching and how effective these were in the context of a newly-developed immersive learning approach. 

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Evaluating the Effectiveness of Immersive Learning in Nurse Education (PDF, 1.7Mb)

Background:

A project completed in 2015, undertaken by Otago Polytechnic, to evaluate the effectiveness of using a technology-enhanced, integrated, immersive, teaching approach to clinical practice, in order to improve learner outcomes within nursing education.

A research report prepared by Liz Ditzel, Raewyn Lesa and Karole Hogarth. 

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF)

This report documents a trial of two scenario-based interactive learning resources to gauge their effects on the learning of health science students at Massey University.

The findings may be of use for those thinking of developing multimedia, scenario-based resources to be used by students.

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Response to Scenario-based Resources in a First Year Human Bioscience University Course (PDF, 1.2Mb)

Background:

A project, completed in 2012, that aimed to develop a new scenario-based learning tool to encourage active student participation and learning. A collaboration of Massey University and Charles Darwin University.

Research report prepared by Jim Clarke, Michelle McCulley, Isabelle Lys, Terry Stewart and John Milne.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF)

A guide for teachers of the discipline

This report presents high-level reflections on the Exercise & Sport Science programme, those who teach it; and the overall capacity to deliver a rigorous science education. It also includes a gap-analysis and explores how the gaps can be closed.

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Exercise & sport science as a rigorous science education: A guide for teachers of the discipline (PDF, 500Kb)

Background:

A project completed in 2010, undertaken by Massey University, to guide tertiary teachers of Exercise & Sport Science in ways that could improve the rigour of Exercise & Sport Science as a scientific discipline and lead to better learning outcomes for undergraduates.

Research report prepared by Jonathan Hughes and Helen Hughes.

Co-funded by the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF)