Outreach and retention of Maori and Pasifika students in the Australian higher education – a community approach

Ia fua tele o le niu May the coconut tree bear much fruit (Samoan proverb) Pasifika peoples living in Australia face cultural and systemic barriers to higher education participation. As South East Queensland has a rapidly... [ view full abstract ]

Ia fua tele o le niu
May the coconut tree bear much fruit (Samoan proverb)

Pasifika peoples living in Australia face cultural and systemic barriers to higher education participation. As South East Queensland has a rapidly rising Pasifika population QUT has developed a range of initiatives to support this cultural group.

Initially these initiatives emerged in a siloed manner. More recently however, QUT has developed a consolidated approach as part of it's widening participation agenda. This included amending admissions and scholarships processes, collaboration with local schools, and community engagement. In addition, the University formed the QUT Pasifika Working Party to coordinate both outreach and retention activity and research into Pasifika peoples’ needs in the Australian higher education context was funded to inform a strategic plan. Meanwhile, a separate student initiative saw the formation of a vibrant student association – the QUT Pasifika Association (QUTPA) – which provides current and prospective students with academic, cultural and social support within university.

This organic growth has morphed into a whole-of-university/community approach to supporting Pasifika students across their entire student lifecycle (including before and after university), synthesised and conceptualised as the QUT Niu Horizons Framework. The aim of the framework is to allow students to explore knowledge, both from the university and the community (western and traditional). It acknowledges the importance of family and community integration into the student experience and provides opportunities for meaning and reciprocal partnerships between QUT, students and community. The framework effectively coordinates the various systems of support for QUT Pasifika students across these key stakeholders.

So far this approach has yielded much fruit in terms of strong relationships with schools, students, parents and community to widen participation through improved outreach to prospective students and increased student engagement with a view to improved retention for Pasifika students.