Massey University’s initiatives to enhance student success, especially among Māori and Pacific learners, are yielding positive results, according to the latest Education Performance Indicators.

Massey University has implemented a comprehensive strategy, known as Pūrehuroatanga, aimed at increasing student success and course completion by addressing learning barriers.

The university’s recent data, submitted to the Tertiary Education Commission, reveals significant strides in key performance areas.

Notably, first-year retention rates have surpassed targets ahead of schedule.

The government’s performance metrics focus on course completion, first-year retention, student progression, and cohort-based qualification completion.

Provost Professor Giselle Byrnes highlighted the progress among priority groups, stating, "We should collectively be very proud of these results. There have been some significant changes to the way we do things, including becoming far more student-centric to understand the complexities of the barriers our students face and how we tailor support to help them overcome these challenges."

From 2016 to 2023, the parity gap for Māori learners has narrowed significantly, dropping from 10.1% to 1.6%.

Similarly, the gap for Pacific learners has decreased from 12.8% to 6.4%.

The overall course completion parity gap for Māori students improved from 12.9% in 2016 to 7.5% in 2023, while Pacific learners saw a reduction from 20.4% to 18.0% in the same period.

Professor Byrnes and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Students and Global Engagement Dr Tere McGonagle-Daly co-chair Pūrehuroatanga.

Established in 2021, this initiative aims to consolidate existing student support activities across the university.

Dr McGonagle-Daly remarked, "This collective and collaborative approach is about ensuring the university is removing barriers to students’ learning success. There are student-facing and academic support teams working alongside student representatives on large and complex projects to remove barriers, and these results show the changes are making a difference."

Projects under Pūrehuroatanga range from simplifying student support access to utilising data to identify and assist students in need.

These efforts include culturally appropriate learning support and mentoring programmes.

Approximately 70% of Massey’s Pacific learners pursue their studies primarily or entirely by distance.

Recognising the unique challenges faced by these students, the Office of Pacific Student Success offers comprehensive support through a culturally safe approach, building strong relationships within and beyond the university community.

Dean Pacific Professor Tasa Havea shared an example of adaptive course delivery: "In one instance, we identified a course with notably high failure rates. Upon examination, we discovered the course featured weekly tests, which posed a challenge for students juggling multiple responsibilities. We asked the course coordinator to reconsider the assessment strategy, emphasising the importance of testing comprehension rather than organisational skills. By reducing the frequency of tests to two - one midway and one at the end - the course saw the highest pass rates among our Pacific students."

Massey’s Ākonga Māori Student Success Support team delivers administrative, pastoral, and cultural support through Te Rau Tauawhi Māori Student Centre and academic support via a tuakana-teina mentoring programme.

This initiative pairs experienced Māori students (tuakana) with newer students (teina) to offer tailored guidance and advice.

Pou Ākonga Professor Dame Farah Palmer praised the mentoring programme, stating, "The Kaihāpai programme has the ability to inspire Māori to strive for success. It provides mentors with an opportunity to share their experiences, knowledge, and successes relating to their journey at Massey University and in tertiary study."

Professor Palmer also noted the need for further improvements for part-time learners.

"We are aware part-time learners have different challenges to overcome, and we’re looking at ways of culturally appropriate outreach. For example, we’re exploring working with iwi to engage part-time and distance learners through whakapapa, while also providing more online opportunities for whakawhanaungatanga and manaaki to be demonstrated from Massey to our Māori distance learners."