Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda

Ako Aotearoa is a government-funded organisation committed to supporting the country's tertiary sector teachers, trainers and educators be the best they can be for the learners' success. Our vision is the best possible educational outcomes for all learners.

We have taken a new approach with the Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA) programme. Future focused and coherent, the programme for the next nine years involves collaboratively working with tertiary education organisations, researchers, and educators to develop new knowledge to inform improved ways of teaching and learning in Aotearoa New Zealand. With the appointment of the Programme Manager, Research and Innovation, Dr Marvin Hao Wu in May 2023, Ako Aotearoa is implementing its next phase of the AARIA programme, with annual budget of up to $500,000.

The AARIA priorities align with the expectations of the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence (NCTTE) – funding goal 2.

TEC guidance states that the NCTTE Fund is to:

1. Build teaching capability of TEOs and educators.
2. Commission and conduct research, monitoring and evaluation about effective teaching.
3. Provide associated advice to the sector and government agencies.
4. Administer the Tertiary Teaching Awards.

Strategic goals

There are five strategic goals for Ako Aotearoa aligned to the Tertiary Education Strategy to inform the AARIA priorities:

1. As a Te Tiriti-o Waitangi-led organisation Ako Aotearoa seeks to be a leading body in the tertiary education sector in a diverse Aotearoa New Zealand.
2. To lead change in teaching and learning excellence and educational capability, being agile, adaptive, and impactful to support the Tertiary Education Strategy priorities.
3. To champion learners as Ako partners, valuing their experiences, voices, and aspirations and those of whānau and communities.
4. Barrier-free access and strengths-based approaches to improve educational and other outcomes particularly for Māori and Pacific Peoples.
5. To lead and build language, literacy, numeracy, and cultural educator capability in tertiary foundation and bridging education and workplace learning in Aotearoa.

The importance of research and innovation across the tertiary education system

Each level of the tertiary education system wants the same outcomes for ākonga, but each level has different knowledge needs to achieve this. For example:

• Government is interested in knowing about: the extent to which the objectives of the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) are being met; the extent to which the RoVE changes are providing a coherent, seamless learning experience; and how to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific, disabled, and neurodiverse ākonga.
• Organisations and educators are interested in knowing about: ways to build the capability of those delivering education and training (i.e. educators, advisors, employers); a pedagogy of equity; how to use an equity lens to know more about the conditions for learner success related to teaching and learning; assessment; support services; and data and technology.
• Ākonga want a range of factors that improve their learning experience and for their voices to be heard (Based on the Te Rito reports).