Poutama Ara Rau brings researchers together to stimulate new research collaborations and practices that lead to more mātauranga, tikanga and reo in tertiary teaching and learning.
Poutama Ara Rau became a University of Otago Research Theme in 2016. We are led by Professor Karyn Paringatai, Professor Suzanne Pitama and Professor Jacinta Ruru, and supported by a steering committee and a wide network of researched-led tertiary teachers.
Kaupapa
Poutama Ara Rau is a multidisciplinary research collaboration that is:
- developing and encouraging translational Māori research embedded in theory and methods for application across research, supervision and teaching
- offering unique opportunities for Otago's staff and students and
- building on significant disciplinary-specific Māori successes in ako at Otago to create new knowledge in curricula, leadership and innovation strategically aligned with national strategies and positioned for external funding possibilities
We are guided in this work by:
- View the University of Otago's Māori Strategic Framework
- The Statement of National Education and Learning Priorities 2020
- The Tertiary Education Strategy 2020
Ingoa
Our name, Poutama Ara Rau, is an adaptation of the whakataukī "Tangaroa ara rau" (Tangaroa of many paths). Literally Poutama Ara Rau can be understood as 'poutama' (a set of steps commonly used in reference to the acquisition of knowledge), 'ara' (pathway), and 'rau' (many).
This highlights the fact that there are many different pathways of learning, teaching and understanding to be taken and shared with each other to achieve the desired aim of reaching the pinnacle of educational success, both as teachers and learners.
Waitohu
In 2017, Taylor-Rose Terekia (Te Aitanga-a Māhaki, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Porou, Te Tai Rāwhiti) received a senior student internship with Poutama Ara Rau to create a design that best represents our research theme. We love Taylor-Rose's design, representing the many pathways that subtly fade into a blue palette.