Launch of Ako Aotearoa for teacher excellence

News release 23 October 2007

Teaching excellence boosted with the launch of Ako Aotearoa

Better outcomes for all learners is the focus of a new centre for teaching excellence to be launched next month.

Ako Aotearoa, New Zealand’s first Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, is part of a $20 million Government initiative to boost the quality of teaching in all branches of the post-school education sector.

Centre Director Peter Coolbear says the cross-sector approach will include all tertiary teaching and training – at universities, polytechs, wananga, private training businesses, in workplaces and in the community.

“Good teaching is often hidden. Ako Aotearoa aims to get good teaching out of the closet and grow New Zealand’s educational capability.”

A consortium of institutions headed by Massey University won the contract to establish the centre last year. The consortium includes AUT University, the University of Canterbury, Christchurch College of Education, UCOL, and Manukau Institute of Technology. The centre comprises a national centre on Massey’s Wellington campus and regional hubs in Christchurch, Palmerston North and Auckland.

Minister for Tertiary Education Michael Cullen will launch Ako Aotearoa on 1 November in the Museum Building at Massey’s Wellington campus.

Speakers include Dr Karl Dodds of CPIT, winner of the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award for teaching excellence in 2006; and Joey Randall, Co-President of NZUSA.

The launch will be followed by a public lecture by Dr Coolbear on fostering the best possible educational outcomes for learners in New Zealand's tertiary education sector.

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