geoff hawkings - Waiariki Institute of Technology

stateMent oF eQual eDucational oPPortunities
(eedo)
Waiariki Institute of Technology is committed to equal educational opportunities for all students. A wide range of
support services are available in addition to the day-to-day support given by lecturers in the classroom.
The commitment to EEdO is evidenced through enabling equitable educational access, appropriate support services
and barrier-free facilities for all students. Services are primarily co-ordinated through five main service areas:
1. Te Wairere Library/Learning Centre
2. Mokoia Health Centre
3. Information Centre
4. Disability Co-ordination
5. Secondary School Tertiary Alignment Team
1. te Wairere library/learning centre
The highlight for 2006 was the successful integration of Learning Support staff and Library staff to ensure
a vibrant centre where students enjoy integrated and effective services. The Centre focussed on improved
attendance at school whānau support-groups hui, extensive networking and liaison with lecturing staff and
Students’ Association and embedding of learning skills in all courses.
Positive survey feedback confirmed the value of Library Learning Centre facilities and the quality of service
provided by staff. Respondents indicated an average of 81.5 % satisfaction across the 17 service areas.
The Centre has been actively involved in institute-wide developments in e-Learning, generic and foundation skills
programs and research activities. Regional students have become active library users with a 32% increase in
items going out to the regions compared to the previous year. The 274 Information Literacy classes conducted
during 2006 ensured that students and staff have become confident users of electronic information resources
which led to the record high usage of databases/electronic resources: 86,617 hits were recorded.
Te Wairere Library/Learning Centre offers effective support services to all students including Literacy
and Numeracy, Academic skills, IT Literacy, Mentoring and Study coaching. It also provides support and
programmes that enable more Māori and Pacific Learners to complete their courses of study.
Waiariki is fortunate to have its own Marae on the Rotorua Campus which offers many opportunities for
educational and spiritual wellbeing in a strong cultural environment. There is a full time Kaumātua and Te Mana
Mātauranga Council members make themselves available for manaakitanga (pastoral support).
Across all Waiariki Campuses, learner support staff held 1,504 individual consultants and 601 group
consultations.
2. Mokoia Health centre
The needs of the diverse nature of students are met in the areas of health and counselling. These services are
provided at no cost to the student. As the counselling services are contracted in, students can see counsellors
at times convenient to them and there are no waiting lists. An effective healthy learning environment is promoted
and encouraged with the assistance of two Occupational Health Nurses. At Rotorua there is a Doctors service
available on site but health services are accessible from all campuses.
Occupational Health Nurses provided 2108 individual consultations, Doctors held 397 individual consultations
and Counsellors held 164 individual consultations.
76 2006 ANNUAL REPORT