Mō tēnei mahere | About this framework

Read about our mandate, project team, guiding values, and the models we used to develop the framework. Find out about our student and staff consultation.

Mandate

The primary mandate for Ki te rā comes from The Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 which requires all tertiary education institutions to have strategic goals to support the wellbeing and safety of students. In 2021, a Te Herenga Waka Gap Analysis of the Code identified the necessity for an organisation-wide framework with goals that can be reported against.

Student wellbeing outcomes framework project team

The development of a Student Wellbeing Outcomes Framework was sponsored by former Provost Wendy Larner, with Kirsty McClure as Project Director, Rachel Anderson-Smith as Project Manager, and Project Assistants Alisa Ikenaga, Claudia Comber, and Toby Leman. The project team sought advice from professional and academic staff wellbeing experts, student leadership and external wellbeing experts.

Guiding values, models, and documents

The definition of wellbeing, principles, and key outcomes have been crafted by the project team with guidance from expert advisers and have been based on the values outlined in our Strategic Plan, Te Pae Māhutonga: A Model for Māori Health Promotion, Fonua Ola and Fonofale: Pacific Models of Wellbeing, the Five Ways to Wellbeing, Every Life Matters—He Tapu te Oranga o ia Tangata: Suicide Prevention Strategy 2019–2029 and Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2019–2024 for Aotearoa New Zealand and best practice exemplars, including from the University of New South Wales. We received valuable advice from the Chair of the YOU Student Wellbeing Survey team and drew on preliminary findings released from the YOU survey. We also drew on being a Restorative University, and a Health Promoting University in line with the Okanagan Charter. Health promoting universities transform the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen communities, and contribute to the wellbeing of people, places, and the planet.

Audience

Ki te rā has been developed as a resource to support our community to innovatively connect what we do with the wellbeing outcomes we want to achieve. It is envisaged that all faculties, schools, and central service units, even if not named directly, will draw from this document when developing their own plans so that we can utilise our full power to collectively enhance student wellbeing.

It is also intended that students will be closely involved in delivering Ki te rā, just as they have been in developing it.

Student and staff consultation

In 2022, students and staff were invited through a Student Wellbeing Outcomes Framework survey to identify what Te Herenga Waka is doing well in supporting student wellbeing, what students and staff perceive the causes of poor student wellbeing are, and the opportunities for addressing these. The issues and solutions and definition of wellbeing were further explored in focus groups with student leaders.

The key insights from the student survey, staff survey and student focus groups were as follows. These ten insights are ordered by the combined quantity and strength of responses.

  1. Reaffirm and strengthen the wellbeing culture and community at Te Herenga Waka.
  2. Embed wellbeing into teaching and learning design and delivery.
  3. Uphold and enhance highly regarded student services.
  4. Accept, acknowledge, and celebrate identity.
  5. Respond to post-pandemic expectations of flexibility, remote access, and sustainable workloads.
  6. Recognise the interconnectedness of staff wellbeing and student wellbeing.
  7. Establish wellbeing as a core component of our plans, policies, decisions, and systems.
  8. Address campus and city safety.
  9. Influence students’ cost of living.
  10. Understand and act on climate change.

The consultation process was designed to maximise the time and capacity for our community to engage in discussions about wellbeing and share their whakaaro (ideas). The project team was heartened that during this process staff and student leaders took the initiative to commence some of the activities they identified as important to enhancing student wellbeing.

In 2023 following the drafting of the Framework and negotiation with primary action responsibility holders, a formal final consultation was conducted. Overall, a significant majority of staff and student respondents showed support for the work undertaken, as well as wanting the progression of student wellbeing to go further and faster. Minor changes were made as a result of this feedback.

Staff wellbeing

The interconnectedness of staff and student wellbeing was recognised from the outset of the project to develop a Student Wellbeing Outcomes Framework, particularly as many staff are also students. While the Ki te rā—Student Wellbeing Outcomes Framework includes some actions that will benefit both student and staff wellbeing, it is focused on enhancing student wellbeing. The Human Resources team is leading the creation of a Kaimahi/Staff Wellbeing Framework. There has been ongoing sharing of knowledge and findings during the development phase of these frameworks, and it is expected this will continue during their implementation.

Connectivity with existing mahi

Our approach to wellbeing will be enhanced by Ki te rā, which has been crafted to align with the goals of existing frameworks and plans such as: Mai i te Iho ki te Pae—Māori Strategic Outcomes Framework; Pasifika Strategy and Plans; Ngā Kīwai o te Kete—Student Engagement Framework; Te Parahia—Sustainability Outcomes Framework; Te Korou—Learning and Teaching Strategy; Toiere—Guide to course learning design; Digital Solutions Roadmap; Paerangi—Student Success Framework; the University Accommodation Pastoral Care Framework; and the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework.

Ki te rā and the University’s approach to wellbeing, forms one of the pillars under the Kia Haumaru, Kia Matatū—Health, Safety, and Wellbeing Strategy.

Ki te rā, and the consultation that informed it, seeks to enrich the understanding of the impact that existing initiatives can have on student wellbeing as well as providing a challenge to go further.

Resourcing

Ki te rā has been developed with financial prudence and the importance of working sustainably in mind and therefore focuses on what can be realistically delivered. Because of this, our inaugural Ki te rā—Student Wellbeing Outcomes Framework does not solely focus on ideal actions but on primary actions that can make a meaningful difference to improve wellbeing outcomes.

Go back to explore more of the framework.