Te Wananga o Raukawa Audit breaks new ground

A recent quality audit of Te Wānanga o Raukawa broke new ground in its approach, recognising the distinctive nature of the wānanga.

The process has pleased NZQA and Raukawa and it may be a model for future audits of other Tertiary Education Organisations.

In 2003, Te Wānanga o Raukawa identified ten kaupapa (themes), and the tikanga (customs) that expressed those kaupapa, which have become integral to the way it operates.

Aneta WiNeera, Raukawa Crown liaison, says, "NZQA's audit team drew up a framework based on our kaupapa ... after discussions it was agreed that we would present our information based on our kaupapa and they would audit three of our programmes."

The week-long audit in June included site visits, verbal presentations and written material. The audit team is still evaluating the audit.

Aneta says the audit process was a test for both parties. "For us it was, 'these are our tikanga, do they shape up?' If we have good tikanga, we should meet all external requirements."

Raukawa has exacting standards of its own. For example, one kaupapa, manaakitanga (caring for people) has led to a tikanga that student accommodation should be warm, clean and inviting. In the student surveys last year, 86% gave the accommodation an "excellent". Aneta says Raukawa administration would like that to be 100%.

Another tikanga is an agreement to report back annually to the three iwi which founded Te Wānanga o Raukawa. "Every year we hold hui with those iwi and present our annual report. This provides the opportunity for them to respond to what we are doing," Aneta says.

"The mentality of 'one size fits all' doesn't work. We put a stake in the ground," says Aneta of the revised audit process her wānanga used.

"It does require goodwill and trust on both sides. If education is about journeys and exploration, this is a good one to be on."