Pou Arahi Rangahau, Dr Shireen Maged, says a number of major research projects will put Te Wānanga o Aotearoa on the map in the rangahau space.

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has appointed six rangahau advisors based in the three takiwā. The appointments are part of an overall Akoranga strategy to further enhance research capability within the organisation.

Shireen said a wide-ranging review of the rangahau strategy and operations was underway.

“Rangahau advisors are consulting with TWoA kaiako and kaimahi across the country, seeking their feedback on their expectations of rangahau and the support they will need to engage in rangahau moving forward,” she said.

“The voices and views of our kaiako and kaimahi are very important and will inform our thinking when developing the rangahau strategy for the next few years. This will ensure that the strategy is relevant to the whānau we serve.” She said in addition to supporting TWoA kaiako and kaimahi to be research-active, the rangahau team was also looking at a handful of externally-funded research projects that will put the wānanga on the map.

“There will definitely be a rangahau project on Te Reo Māori and there is likely to be one on whānau transformation through education.”

“We are 30 years old and we have had thousands of students study with us during this time so this is a good time for a rangahau project that will deepen our understanding of the impact of whānau transformation through education, on the lives of our tauira, their whānau, and the broader New Zealand society.”

Shireen said a recently-held kaupapa Māori research workshop series facilitated by Associate Professor Leonie Pihama and Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai will be offered again next year so that kaiako and kaimahi in the takiwā can attend.

She said the rangahau strategy would be launched at the end of this year.