Helping hand for at-risk learners pays off for WITT pass rates

Taranaki's largest tertiary education institute says a big improvement in pass rates for Māori, Pasifika and disabled students is down to making sure they get plenty of help and support.

The Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki has also closed the gap between more vulnerable student groups and the general student body.

In 2022, the Māori pass rate at WITT was 64 percent - compared to 74 for general students.

Last year, Māori achievement jumped to 72 percent, just five percentage points behind the general student body whose pass rate also improved.

Tuari Rewiti from the Kaitakawaenga Māori and Pacific Student Success Team said the change was down to an institute-wide focus on getting in early to identify and help at-risk learners.

That included using an app called Pulse.

"All our Māori and Pasifika come through Pulse. When we get them we make contact with them. We arrange to meet with them and their family and from there we then begin to build a relationship. From our point of view relationships are key."

The early intervention programme at WITT is modelled on the Tertiary Education Commission's project Oritetanga: 'Tertiary Success for Everyone' and data from Georgia State University in the United States.

Tuari Rewiti (Ngāti Maniapoto / Raukawa / Nga rauru ki tahi) has a background in social work.

He said collaboration across campus was key to improving outcomes for Māori.

"Because at the end of the day our male Māori, they are not too good at putting their hand up and going 'hey, I need help'. So, our tutors are right at the coalface. They see our ākonga (learners) and I'm alongside the tutors and students to kind of identify as well."

Rewiti said a game changer on campus had been WITT embracing te ao Māori.

"That consistency of our people seeing not only the Māori staff but also our European staff and our Indian staff embrace te reo and embrace the culture. It's really changed here."

In 2023, Mikayla Mathys (Taranaki iwi) became WITT's first-ever Bachelor of Engineering Technology graduate.

"Originally I did go off to Waikato University and I did for a year and half and then I came home. It just wasn't the right fit and then I carried on my degree here with WITT.

"So, also being here too gave me the opportunity to make connections with local businesses in the energy sector. That's one of the sectors I'm interested in being in and I'm currently working in right now."

But the 23-year-old said it wasn't always straightforward.

"There's always different things you might face along your journey. Like for me my degree was the first here for WITT. So, for anything that's new there's always teething issues and any challenges I faced I knew I had support coming in. So, I'd always keep quite close with Kaitakawaenga and some of the other extended learning support staff."

Mathys is now a graduate engineer with First Gas.

Raymond Ponga (Ā ti Haunui a Pāpārangi) returned to study in 2023 after several years in the workforce, the last a stint as a truck driver.

"Tuari was really the one that was making sure we were up with guest speakers, presentations and there was regular lunches that brought us all together and that gave us a good chance to converse with other people in a similar situation. Yeah, it was very supportive just knowing we're not alone and there was someone to talk to and feeling that support was quite motivating."

After completing a level-three automative course the 30-year-old has now secured an apprenticeship with Out West Automotive.

Pasifika pass rates at WITT also jumped 6 percentage points to 69 percent and students with disabilities were also doing better.

Pass rates for all students were up from 74 percent to 77 percent.