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- Massey University celebrates 60 years of global distance education
- Pūrehuroatanga: Advancing Equity, Access and Excellence
- Toro Mai online courses in high demand
- Equity in education
- Partnerships and milestones in the Pacific Islands
- Celebrating 20 years of Te Mata o Te Tau: Advancing Māori Research and Scholarship
- Te Manu Taikō: Empowering Rangatahi Māori
- Bachelor of Arts completed entirely in te reo Māori
- First Tokelauan Doctorate in New Zealand
- National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence
- Children’s University graduations
- Pacific Peoples doctoral success
- Related content
Massey University celebrates 60 years of global distance education
In 2022, the university marked 60 years of delivering study via distance to people of all ages, backgrounds and locations worldwide.
Massey's extensive history means its name goes hand in hand with distance learning, with more than half of Massey's student cohort now enrolled to study via distance.
In 2022 and 2023, nearly two-thirds, 65.4 per cent, of Massey students studied one or more courses by distance.
- An increase of 5.9 percentage points – compared to 2019, where 59.5 per cent of our students studied one or more courses by distance.
The percentage of Māori and Pacific students who study by distance is even higher. This result underscores the critical role of distance education in promoting inclusivity in education. The flexibility inherent in distance education enables students to pursue their studies while juggling work and family responsibilities.
- In 2023, 82.9 per cent of Māori students studied one or more courses by distance. This is 5.1 percentage points higher than in 2019.
- In 2023, 81.6 per cent of Pacific students studied one or more courses by distance. This is 6.4 percentage points higher than in 2019.
Pūrehuroatanga: Advancing Equity, Access and Excellence
Pūrehuroatanga is a strategic initiative which emphasises equity, access, and excellence. Massey launched the collaborative approach in 2021. Aligned with the University Learning and Teaching Strategy, Paerangi, Pūrehuroatanga aims to eliminate institutional barriers and provide targeted, proactive, and data-driven support for all learners, including priority learner groups.
Specific areas of emphasis include enhancing the success of Māori and Pacific students while fostering disability inclusion. The principal goal is to improve student success using comprehensive strategies.
Furthermore, Massey University has recently developed a Disability and Inclusion Action Plan to further engage with and support the disabled student voice.
Find out more about Pūrehuroatanga
Find out more about Massey’s Disability and Inclusion Action Plan
Toro Mai online courses in high demand
Massey's Toro Mai courses continue to be popular. The two free introductory courses, one on te reo Māori and one on tikanga Māori are offered online and are self-paced.
In 2023, 6,339 people enrolled in Toro Mai. This result represents a return to expected numbers following a peak during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 18,106 enrolments in 2020 and 10,577 in 2021. In 2022, there were 7,827 enrolments.
Equity in education
Māori-medium teaching students
Massey's Te Aho Tātairangi: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning Kura Kaupapa Māori and Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium continue to have steady numbers. In 2023, 59 students enrolled in these qualifications, with an average of 58 students enrolled each year over the past five years.
Both qualifications equip students to teach and lead in the Kura Kaupapa Māori school system.
Notably, Te Aho Paerewa is New Zealand’s first university postgraduate qualification in Māori-medium initial teacher education.
Massey congratulates the Toikura teaching unit within Te Pūtahi-a-Toi School of Māori Knowledge. The team were awarded the Kaupapa Māori Award at the 2023 Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards for excellence in tertiary teaching.
Te Aho Tātairangi: Bachelor of Teaching and Learning Kura Kaupapa Māori
Te Aho Paerewa Postgraduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Māori Medium
Initial and specialist teacher education
Equity Through Education Centre
Massey’s Equity Through Education Centre aims to break down barriers to learning and promote equity in and through education via research, inquiry and scholarship. Recent research focuses on inclusive early childhood education, screen tools for identifying children with visual difficulties and unpacking the complexities of using smartphones for learning in schools.
Learn more about our Equity Through Education Centre
Initial and specialist teacher education
Numbers continue to grow in our Specialist Teaching qualifications, which focuses on inclusive education and allows teachers to become specialist educators. In 2023, there were 430 students, which is double the number five years ago.
Specialities include Blind and Low Vision, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Learning Education and Complex Educational Needs.
The qualification builds on UN Conventions to establish the right of all children/young people to education that promotes presence, participation and learning in local schools and communities.
Overall, early childhood, primary and secondary initial teaching education enrolment numbers remain strong at Massey, with more than 280 students enrolled in these qualifications in 2023.
Partnerships and milestones in the Pacific Islands
Massey's academics contributed to the reprinting of the 1986 Tokelau dictionary. The focus of the reprint was on keeping the language alive for the Tokelauan diaspora, of whom many cannot speak the language.
“Talanoa Ako: Pacific talk about education and learning” is a collaboration with the Ministry of Education. Integrating Pacific cultural concepts and knowledge with classroom learning and reporting to parents is at the heart of this project and is designed to bolster Pacific student achievements.
The university's Institute of Education was part of a project with researchers from the United States and Australia to make maths contextually relevant for school children in the Cook Islands and Niue.
Celebrating 20 years of Te Mata o Te Tau: Advancing Māori Research and Scholarship
Te Mata o Te Tau, the Academy for Māori Research and Scholarship, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023. Highlights include supporting Dr Taiarahia Black in completing the first doctorate entirely in te reo Māori and implementing a coordinated approach to increasing the number of Māori doctoral students.
Te Manu Taikō: Empowering Rangatahi Māori
Massey congratulates Suraya Goss, Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mātauranga Māori (Māori Knowledge) after completing her entire qualification in te reo Māori.
Bachelor of Arts completed entirely in te reo Māori
Te Manu Taikō, a kaupapa Māori programme for years 12 and 13 high-school students, was an opportunity for rangatahi Māori to be informed, be inspired, get a taste of university life, celebrate being Māori and plan for their future studies.
First Tokelauan Doctorate in New Zealand
Massey proudly celebrates Doctor of Philosophy graduate Hana Tuisano’s achievement as the first Tokelauan in Aotearoa New Zealand to obtain a doctorate.
National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence
In 2023, Massey University, alongside Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Pūkenga, won the bid to host the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence for the next three years.
Children’s University graduations
The Children’s University celebrated the graduation of 96 tamariki at ceremonies on the Pukeahu and Manawatū campuses in December 2022. This charity programme encourages young learners to engage in educational experiences beyond the classroom.
Pacific Peoples doctoral success
Massey University congratulates Dr Rochelle Nafatali, the university’s first Pacific Peoples Doctor of Clinical Psychology graduate. The Riddet institute, hosted by Massey, also welcomed its first Pacific Peoples PhD scholar.
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