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A Supportive Learning EnvironmentWe have a very strong focus onsupporting our students to succeed.It takes a whole team, and that’s whatWelTec is, to make a difference in thelives of our students.Success for MaoriThere is a significant and growing rise in Maori student numbersat WelTec. So we are pleased with what was achieved forMaoristudents at WelTec in 2012 - both in terms of student success butalso in the quality of our relationships with Maori stakeholders. Aswell as student outcome data, further evidence of this success is acomprehensive review and report on current and future strategiesfor Maori achievement at WelTec by Professor Rawiri Taonui, TeAra Poutama – Faculty of Maori Development, AUT – AucklandUniversity of Technology.Support for studentsOur Leaning Commons area provides academic support to allWelTec students. Our staff help students with their individualstudy and learning needs. Several innovations to the service in2012 brought about even great student success. For the firsttime, Learning Commons tutors joined classrooms to team teachwith the subject teacher. Their emphasis was on literacy andnumeracy. As a result, the literacy and numeracy of the studentsin these classes significantly improved and students’ qualificationcompletion increased.We recruited Learning Commons tutors with specific skills sets,such as computer aided design and drawing, as this was whatmany students needed.The implementation of the Moodle learning management systemis a key feature has improved students’ technology-basedlearning experiences. Moodle has allowed us to effectively blendface-to-face time with a variety of technology-enhanced learningresources.Professor Taonui’s report commended our Tamaiti Whangaiprogramme of student support for its iwi-driven nature and forthe effectiveness of its mentor model. He said that what TamaitiWhangai does is quite remarkable, all the more so for having harddata to prove its value.Tamaiti Whangai was established in 2008. We work closely withour partner, Te Runanganui o Taranaki to support the achievementof their vision for Maori education. In 2012, Tamaiti Whangaiincreased its reach across all our programmes.Tamaiti Whangai mentors provide support to Maori students onkaupapa Maori principles, looking at the ‘whole’ student andensuring each individual gets the mentoring and pastoral supportthey need to achieve. Tamaiti Whangai also works with ourteaching staff so they are part of a supportive environment andcan be better teachers for Maori students.Tamaiti Whangai also administers a number of Maori scholarships,for which there was a very high pass rate in 2012. The WelTecWarriors Under 19 League team, a hit with many Maori students,also did well.Professor Taonui made a number of recommendations that westarted to put into place in 2012. Initial steps include establishinga senior Maori advisory position on our Executive ManagementTeam to be the Runanga’s representative in 2013. This will providea Maori perspective and Te Ati Awa view to our work – fundamentalto our Treaty partnership relationship. Additional Tamaiti Whangaimentors plus a new position of Tamaiti Whangai Team Leaderwere put in place.2012 ANNUAL REPORT | 41