Kia Ora

The College of Education is currently considering what I believe is an exciting proposal for change that would result in a greater focus on teaching as graduate or postgraduate qualification.

As a alumni of the College, you will know that we are committed to providing high quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE) and raising the status of teaching as a valued professional career option.

We want Massey’s College of Education to continue to be a leading provider of ITE; bringing together the best practice and theory in programmes that are cutting edge, research-led and that produce teachers that make a real difference.

To do this successfully we believe we need to set a clear and focused vision for the future.

Part of the proposal would see a strengthening of our existing Graduate Diploma of Teaching qualifications for Early Childhood Education, Primary and Secondary. It would also see a phasing out of our undergraduate teaching degrees.

For school leavers wanting to come directly to study towards a career in teaching at Massey, an undergraduate pathway will remain available through programmes such as our Bachelor of Arts (Education). This course allows students to undertake study in a wide range of disciplines; with a completed degree they can move on to ITE through one of our successful graduate diplomas.

Another major part of our proposal is to change Education at Massey from a College to an Institute, located within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Creation of an Institute of Education strongly signals that we want to be among the best, research-driven university education centres in the world—equal to the likes of the London Institute of Education at the University of London and the Ontario Institute of Education at the University of Toronto.

While these changes may be seen by some as a bold step, it is a reflection of international trends in Education teaching within universities and is in line with Massey’s own bold vision to be New Zealand’s defining university.

We have set ourselves a challenge to continue to develop truly innovative programmes which will drive long-term economic growth and improve social, cultural, and educational outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.

As educators and academics we are uniquely placed - and have a responsibility to - explore and develop more effective education systems fit for the future. At the College of Education we need to create an environment which supports and nurtures our researchers and teachers to develop and apply that new thinking.

As our alumni you will know that whatever programme of study you followed Massey College of Education graduates are highly regarded and well-qualified to take their place in the classroom.

For Massey University to play a defining role in helping to shape what we describe as the new New Zealand, we require a different and more focused approach to education. We must make a bold step.

We must develop new and different approaches to how we teach education and professional development. This is really what sits at the heart of this proposal for change.

I am confident that the new direction we plan to take will give you considerable pride as an alumnus of Education at Massey University.

Unique degree to boost Māori language teaching

A new four-year Māori immersion teaching degree will help to fill a critical shortage of expert Te Reo teachers and help halt the decline of the language, says Massey University Associate Professor Huia Tomlins Jahnke, who led the development of the course.
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Alumni award recognises Henry's leadership

Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Graham Henry, Russia-based economist and merchant banker Stephen Jennings and highly regarded New Zealand businesswoman and company director Sue Suckling are among those recognised as distinguished alumni of Massey University at an awards function in Wellington tonight.
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Class size matters to those who struggle most

Research shows that class size does matter; and that it matters most for socio-economically disadvantaged learners, the very groups that the Government says it is most concerned about, says Massey University Professor of Education John O'Neill.
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Bevan-Brown recognised for work with gifted Māori children

Massey University education researcher, Associate Professor Jill Bevan-Brown has been recognised for her work on increasing understanding of gifted and talented Māori learners.
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Massey project to halt 'summer slide' in reading

Summer – for adults at least – is the perfect time to catch up on reading, and the idea of kicking back with a good novel is sheer bliss for many. But school children do not usually have books on top of their fun list, and reading levels can deteriorate over the six-week break as a result.
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Mother plus daughter = maths success for many

Massey University’s mother and daughter mathematics champions Dr Bobbie Hunter and Jodie Hunter are transforming the way Pasifika and Maori pupils learn maths in a bid to lift achievement levels.
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Something for your students

Massey University is supporting the Reel Earth Film Festival and a new competition which kicks off this year aimed at budding filmmakers under 21
.
The challenge is to make a 2 minute environmental film, on any topic beginning with “c”. For example, cars, compost, carbon, climate change, carrots, cycling, cautionary tale.

Prizes include over $2,300 worth of Telecom phones and prepaid vouchers.
For more information, or to sign up, visit www.reelearth.org.nz/ef-factor

Master of TESOL Leadership

Massey’s Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Leadership (MTESOLL) programme is now open to New Zealand and International students based in New Zealand, as well as New Zealand students based overseas.

Interest in TESOL is growing internationally with government policies in many countries now requiring subjects such as mathematics, science and technology to be taught in English. In addition, an increasingly global economy, greater opportunities for travel, and international migration has led to a growing demand for TESOL leadership expertise both domestically and internationally.

Combining Master’s level papers in educational leadership with TESOL knowledge is unique both nationally and internationally. Taking this programme will build a deep knowledge of and provide critical reflection on research in this area, equipping you with key leadership roles at the forefront of the development and implementation of innovative practices and policies in TESOL within many contexts.

If you are a senior teacher or educational manager in a national or international setting, or if you are considering becoming one, this research-led and innovative programme will help you to develop the high-level professional skills and theory you will need to get there.

Semester Two enrolment dates:
New International Students 1 May 2012
New Domestic Students 27 June 2012
Returning Students 4 July 2012

Enrolment information

MTESOLL Student Profile, Sonia Fitzi

My parents emigrated to NZ in 1951 and I am half Swiss and half Italian; I was born and grew up in New Zealand and in my heart am definitely a New Zealander. In 1974 I came to Switzerland for one year maximum two and am still here. I spent a year teaching in Auckland in 2006-2007, slotting backing into kiwi life as if I’d never been away.

Massey has accompanied me on and off for many a year. Starting in 1996 I gained a Bachelor of Arts (English), followed by the Postgraduate Diploma in Second Language Teaching in 2001 .More recently I have begun my first papers in the MTESOLL programme. I am particularly enjoying reading the recommended books and articles that I would never choose otherwise.

Being a long distance student on the other side of the world can sometimes be isolating, but with Massey’s online learning environment Stream and other forms of media it is not as lonely as it once was. The most wonderful thing about being a student is that when you go to work it’s a break. I teach English to adults, work for a number of different schools and also do in-company work – mainly banks. So the work is very varied and it’s nice to be able to accompany so many students as they battle to improve their English. What I have acquired from Massey informs my work and gets passed on to students - so it’s a complete circle. To sum up I hope all of you find it as challenging and enriching as I do.