Prioritising excellence in tertiary teaching - working better together to build successful futures for all learners

Ako Aotearoa - the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence (NCTTE) – undertook a strategy co-design project with the tertiary education sector, commencing in Q1, 2025.

Ako Aotearoa framed its approach through three strategic areas to improve learner outcomes and lead a successful future for Aotearoa’s tertiary education system.

They included:

• thought leadership
• sector collaboration
• teaching excellence.

The project involved connecting with a wide range of stakeholders across the tertiary sector to identify key priority issues, future needs and innovations to improve the quality of teaching and learning practice. Working together, we aimed to improve innovative and impactful teaching and learning for the success of all learners. 

Strategic collaborations, trusting partnerships and inclusive approaches will help us identify opportunities where we can make the greatest difference, together.

Our Approach

Your point of view mattered

The Ako Aotearoa strategy co-design project involved:

• Regional forums
  Our 2025 Regional Forums provide us with valuable opportunities to gather further feedback from a wide range of sector representatives.
  Central – 3 April – Palmerston North
  Northern – 8 May – Auckland
  Southern – 15 August – Christchurch 
  
  
• Interviews
  We met with strategic individuals across the tertiary sector kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) to discuss key areas relating to the future success of tertiary education in Aotearoa.
  
  
• Online survey
  All people involved in tertiary education were invited to participate. The survey closed 5pm Friday 18 July. 
  
  
• Focus groups
  We also invited small groups of individuals to join us for short focus group sessions.

Final report

The Ako Aotearoa team is delighted to share the Executive Summary of findings, feedback and recommendations from our strategic consultation with the sector.

Findings from our strategic consultation project earlier this year demonstrate that, for our tertiary sector to thrive AND deliver equitable outcomes for all learners across Aotearoa, sustained leadership, resourcing and advocacy are essential.

Find out more, or download the Summary Report