Pacific university students level up with prep course

Hundreds of students are starting their tertiary journey on the front foot, thanks to a foundation course designed to support indigenous and Pacific learners before they begin formal studies.

At AUT Manukau, 230 students enjoy a head start by completing the university’s preparation programme over the summer break.

“It was incredibly helpful," says Maia Lusia Anitele’a (Mulivai-Safata, Lotofaga), a Bachelor of Arts student.

“I know how to navigate contacting lecturers, how to write in a way that’s up to university standard, even knowing what resources to lean into when doing my papers.”

Anitele’a says it is a shift in learning from her time at Howick College, where she graduated last year.

“It was completely different in the sense of culture and what the university space dynamic looked like in regards to how people interacted, and how even your identity was uplifted in this space.”

The 18-year-old runs an organisation called Levai of Hope and uses her Social Studies major to develop her skills.

“I’m just wanting my Bachelor’s degree to back that and make me official and professional, but also to continue to grow my own skills and learn these understandings to then feed into that community.”

UniPrep, an indigenous-led programme, caters to Year 13 students and runs four days a week for four to five weeks at the South Campus in Manukau.

Tuvaluan student Junior Lito (Niutao, Nanumaga) has completed the programme and appreciates the fundamental skills he gained, such as time management and organisation.

"These two essential skills are crucial, so you stay afloat and you don't get overwhelmed by the workload of university.”

Lito, a graduate of Waitakere College, enjoys connecting with other students before the semester starts.

“It gave me a sense of like family, whānau, so when I enter the new space that is university, I'm not alone.”

Lito embarks on a Bachelor of Business, inspired by successful entrepreneurs and the desire for a better financial future.

Students at AUT South Campus. Photo/PMN News/Khalia Strong

“I've always looked up to businessmen like Elon Musk, he's a bit controversial, but just rich businessmen and I've always wanted to be financially free.

“My family, we weren't really blessed with money, so I just want to be financially free and be in a situation where I don't have to work every day.”

Fa’alogo Jacoba Matapo (Sāmoan/Dutch), the first Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at AUT, speaks to the UniPrep participants.

She outlines the course's diverse topics, including the history of Te Tiriti in Aotearoa, ethical AI usage, citation referencing, and critical thinking.

“These are all tools that you hold in your kete. This is your basket of knowledge and practise, and you’ll continue to weave that basket as you journey through AUT.”

Matapo encourages students to share their goals and “teu le vā”, nurturing the relationships formed.

“I wish you well in your future academic journey, and I want to see you all crossing that stage at graduation in the end.”

Education parity at a tertiary level

Figures from 2023 show that university completion rates for Pacific students are 69 per cent, below the national average of 86 per cent.

To address this gap, many universities are increasing their efforts to support Pacific students with dedicated teams and mentoring study spaces.

The University of Otago has appointed Dianne Sika-Paotonu as its first Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Pacific, with a focus on improving Pacific research and leadership.

Meanwhile, changes to the fees-free scheme from 2025 mean students must manage their payment for the first year of study upfront and then claim back their final year fees upon graduation.

The University of Auckland launched its first Pacific strategy in late 2024. This year, 473 Pacific first-year students, including 72 scholarship recipients, enrolled.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Jemaima Tiatia-Siau says they want to use “innovative ways to shift the dial” amidst a challenging political climate.

"It will be tough, extremely tough, but it's also an opportunity to solidify our solidarity with our tangata whenua and mana whenua at a time that is just completely uncertain and unstable.”