Favor Leavasa, Solomon Davis and Kisania Shingleton are taking part in the 九州影院鈥檚 new Takere programme for M膩ori and Pacific students.
听
Takere听is focused on first-year M膩ori and Pacific students enrolled at UC in 2021. The programme provides a support crew of Tu膩kana (student mentors) and staff to help them develop the skills needed to navigate university life.
Based on a narrative of navigation and exploration, the name Takere is taken from the whakatauk墨 鈥淓 kore e ngaro, he takere waka nui鈥, meaning, 鈥淲e will never be lost; we are the hull of a great canoe鈥. 听Students are given provisions that will set them up for their academic career.
Thirty-seven students have been staying at Ilam Apartments accommodation for the four-week programme which will wrap up this Friday. This introduction will be complemented by ongoing mentoring and support throughout the year.
Samoan student, Solomon Davis, 18, who plans to study Te Reo at UC, says the Takere group has quickly become close-knit. 鈥淏eing able to interact with so many people from my own culture who understand that side of my identity makes it a really comfortable, nourishing and encouraging space. It鈥檚 a cool kaupapa.鈥
鈥淎t the start I was really scared of all these new people, but now it鈥檚 like we鈥檙e family and we have really cool connections.鈥
Favor Leavasa (Samoan), 17, was Deputy Head Boy at Catholic Cathedral College, and will study Criminal Justice and Psychology at UC with the goal of becoming a police officer. He says he has gained useful knowledge through the programme. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really set me up for the reality of what university life is like. In four weeks, we鈥檝e covered the social and academic aspects and trying to balance both of those.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a real learning experience for me. I think university is totally different to high school, you have to manage your own time. No-one鈥檚 going to be there to tell you what you should do at a certain time. It鈥檚 your own journey.鈥
Kisania Shingleton (Ng膩i Tahu, Ng膩puhi, Ng膩ti Maniapoto), 18, who left Papanui High School last year, says taking part in Takere has made her feel supported. 鈥淚 was feeling a bit nervous, coming from high school, I didn鈥檛 feel like I was really prepared.
鈥淣ow, being able to get to know the campus and having friends to start with is certainly something that I鈥檓 grateful for.鈥
UC Tumu Tuarua Akoranga | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Catherine Moran says Takere is part of UC鈥檚 commitment to addressing the inequities that face M膩ori and Pacific students.
鈥淯C has launched Takere as a pilot programme designed to improve equity of access and success for our students.
鈥淲e鈥檙e already seeing how it creates a sense of community, builds on their cultural and community connections, and provides them with opportunities to connect with M膩ori and Pacific academics and support staff on campus.
鈥淭he programme, which is unique among Aotearoa New 九州影院universities for being live-in, shows participants what the university environment is like so they can start the new academic year supported and better prepared.鈥
Takere provides participants with meals, a weekly allowance, a fees-free education course on the theory of learning, social and cultural activities and the opportunity to participate in the UC M膩ori leadership programme,听Paihere听and听the听Pacific Mentoring Programme.
There is also mentoring, support for wh膩nau of recipients, and engagement with the Amokapua P膩k膩kano | Assistant Vice Chancellor M膩ori, Pacific and Equity,听Dr Darryn Russell.
Dr Russell says one of the most important aspects of Takere is the opportunity to develop whanaungatanga (connections) with other M膩ori and Pacific students and staff.
鈥淭akere represents a new approach to support the success of talented M膩ori and Pacific taiohi, and aims to disrupt UC in order to better respond to diverse learners at the institution.
鈥淲e want all our students to feel part of UC and to know they have a network of people they can turn to if they need help or support. Takere is a way of fostering that at the very start of their UC experience.
The 2021 Takere programme is a trial that will be regularly evaluated and adapted throughout the year based on feedback from the students taking part.
.jpg)
