Zealand Tertiary Institutions Research Articles

Mental Health Experiences Among Undergraduate Nursing Students in a New Zealand Tertiary Institution: A Time for Change.

Nursing students in undergraduate programmes exhibit comparable, sometimes higher, levels of poor mental health and substance use compared to the general population; however, this area remains under-researched in New Zealand. The study involved 172 nursing students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing programme at one tertiary institution in Auckland, New Zealand. Employing a mixed-methodology approach, a 29-question survey comprising both open and closed questions was administered to explore the students' experiences with mental health and substance use, as well as their access to support services. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 29 descriptive statistics, while a general inductive approach guided the qualitative analysis. A significant proportion of participants (75%) reported experiencing emotional distress during their studies, with anxiety being the most prevalent (78.5%). A smaller percentage disclosed substance use (8.1%) including excessive alcohol use, cannabis use, nicotine use, vaping cannabis and some refusal to reveal substance use. Surprisingly, less than 1% (n = 0.6) utilised institutional support services. Three qualitative themes were identified including emotional distress and associated effects, emotional and psychological impacts on nursing students' academic journey and tertiary support systems. The findings highlight the urgent need to address the mental health and addiction challenges experienced by nursing students, given their potential adverse effects on academic success and overall well-being. Urgent action is needed to integrate mental health training into the curriculum and provide faculty support. In this study, the underutilisation and inadequacy of institutional support services signal a need for institutional reforms to provide access and personalised mental health support to nursing students. Providing essential skills and support for student success contributes to the overall well-being of the nursing workforce.

International students' employability: a language socialization perspective

PurposeThis study introduces a non-orthodox approach to the dominant policy-based approaches to graduate employability through contextualizing international students’ everyday experiences within their educational and wider structural contexts of the labour market.Design/methodology/approachThe study used narrative frames to collect data from 180 international students from China, Hong Kong, India, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Nepal at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Narrative frames as a research tool in educational contexts are used to ellicit the experiences of individuals in the form of a story as participants reflect on their experience. The frames use sentence starters to draw responses from participants about their experiences (Barkhuizen and Wette, 2008).FindingsThis study argues that, through a socialization process, international students develop identities that fit an ever-changing labour market. This process is catalysed by a higher education landscape that produces career-ready subjects capable of appropriating different social spaces that prepare students and graduates to enter the labour market. Further, it argues that graduate employability should be understood as a complex process through which students and graduates socialise themselves through negotiating the socioacademic spaces by (1) familiarising themselves with the dominant workspace norms, (2) positioning themselves as more career-ready individuals, and (3) imagigining employable selves capable of meeting the needs of the job market.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has limitations. Only one data collection source has been used. It would have been great to use narrative frames along with interviews. In addition, the data would have been stronger if the researcher could have used classroom observations, which could be a future initiative.Practical implicationsThis study could provide practical insights to tertiary institutions about international students’ developing capabilities and identities so they could better prepare themselves for the world of work. Further, this study provides insights about some of the challenges that international students face in tertiary contexts to become career-ready. Hence, educators could employ strategies to better support these learners in their everyday learning spaces. This study also has useful benefits for future and current international students and international graduates regarding what investments they need to make so they can better socialize themselves in their tertiary and workplace practices.Social implicationsThis study has social implications. It helps international students better understand the social, cultural and academic expectations of their host countries. Therefore, they could better socialize themselves into those practices and contribute more effectively to their academic and workplace communities. The study also helps academic and workplace institutions strategize more effectively to address the social and cultural needs of international graduates. The study also contributes to the social and cultural understanding of the teachers that engage with international students on a daily basis by helping them devise activities that better address these students’ and graduates’ needs.Originality/valueThe study adds theoretical and methodological value to the debates around graduate employability. It includes the voices of 180 students and unravels their day-to-day experiences of capability building and employability development from their own perspectives.

Queer migration, heteronormativity and the ‘ethnic closet’: Chinese queer international students' intersectional experience in New Zealand

AbstractDrawing on semi‐structured in‐depth interviews with 15 Chinese queer international students from New Zealand's tertiary institutions, this paper explores their motivations to pursue higher education transnationally and unpacks the interconnected power structures underpinning their experiences. We find that despite the imagination and initial perception of New Zealand as one of the most queer‐friendly higher education destinations, Chinese queer international students are confronted by the ‘ethnic closet’—a heteronormative power structure simultaneously disciplining racial/ethnic and sexual identities. The interplay between these two key aspects of students' identity has meant that Chinese queer international students, as migrants who occupy disadvantaged positions in local racial power relations, frequently experience heteronormative microaggressions on campus. These students' ethnic identity, which lies in the heart of their social support system, has also become a hindrance in their queer identity development. Our findings challenge the perceived dichotomy between China as homophobic and ‘the West’ as queer‐friendly, and reveal the need for a more nuanced understanding of queer international students' experiences, in order to better support them in a higher education setting.

Accounting academic leaders’ perceptions on New Zealand’s performance-based research funding system

Purpose Universities globally have faced the introduction of research performance assessment systems that provide monetary and ranking rewards based on publication outputs. This study aims to seek an understanding of the implementation of performance-based research funding (PBRF) and its impact on the heads of departments (HoDs) and accounting academics in New Zealand (NZ) tertiary institutions. The study explores NZ accounting academics’ experiences and their workload; the relationship between teaching and research in the accounting discipline and any issues and concerns affecting new and emerging accounting researchers because of PBRF. Design/methodology/approach Applying an institutional theoretical lens, this paper explores accounting HoDs’ perceptions concerning the PBRF system’s impact on their academic staff. The research used semi-structured interviews to collect data from NZ’s eight universities. Findings The key findings posit that many institutional processes, some more coercive in nature, whereas others were normative and mimetic, have been put in place to ensure that academics are able to meet the PBRF requirements. HoDs suggest that their staff understand the importance of research, but that PBRF is a challenge to new and emerging researchers and pose threats to their recruitment. New academics must “hit the ground running” as they must demonstrate not only teaching abilities but also already have a track record of research publications; all in all, a daunting experience for new academics to overcome. There is also a teaching and research disconnect. Furthermore, many areas where improvements can be made in the design of this measurement tool remain. Originality/value The PBRF system has significantly impacted on accounting academics. Central university research systems were established that subsequently applied coercive institutional pressures onto line managers to ensure that their staff performed. This finding offers scope for future research to explore a better PBRF that measures and rewards research productivity but without the current system’s unintended negative consequences.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Learning Experiences of Higher Education Students in the New Zealand Tertiary Institutions

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Learning Experiences of Higher Education Students in the New Zealand Tertiary Institutions

Understanding and addressing the impact of dyslexia as a medical student: a literature review

Dyslexia is a type of specific learning disability (SLD) or inclusive learning disorder (ILD) characterised by variable, but often significant, difficulties with reading comprehension and writing. The disorder is often associated with speech or verbal processing difficulties and memory problems. Issues with oral language communication may also occur, although these alone are not an indicator of dyslexia. No standardised international or national guidelines exist for supporting tertiary students with dyslexia. However, Australian and New Zealand tertiary institutions provide non-specific student disability services. Despite the provision of these services and the promotion of inclusive learning environments, students with dyslexia continue to face unique challenges that can persist as they enter the workforce.

Sexual and reproductive health knowledges: a study with Pacific young people enrolled in an Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institution

Pacific young people living in Aotearoa New Zealand experience disparities in their sexual and reproductive health outcomes, thought to stem from cultural differences and educational inequities. Although these barriers have been characterised in literature, their influence on Pacific youth’s understandings of sexual and reproductive health have been relatively unexplored. This study investigated the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of Pacific students enrolled at a university in Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020 and where they gained this knowledge. The study used the theoretical framework of the (revitalised) Fonofale health model and was guided by the Kakala research methodology. Data were collected by means of an online survey comprised of open-ended questions and Likert scales, completed by eighty-one eligible students. Open-ended questions were analysed for general themes and responses to Likert scale items are reported using descriptive statistical analysis. The study found that Pacific youth have strong foundations of health knowledge that is heavily influenced by Polynesian cultural beliefs. Both formal and non-formal learning environments were important in developing participants’ health knowledge of these topics and for encouraging independent help-seeking behaviours. This is the first reported study to investigate the sexual and reproductive health knowledges of a pan-Pacific tertiary cohort of young people.

Examining space, silence, and agency in language socialization of an international student in the EAP and mainstream courses

AbstractThis article draws on the concept of the Production of Space (Lefebvre, 1991) to interpret the silence of one female international student from Japan in two semesters of study in a New Zealand Tertiary institution. Data from an English for Academic Purposes course and mainstream courses, and from various sources including video/audio recordings of classroom interactions, interviews, diaries, field notes, institutional documents are presented. The findings show that silence is produced by the academic social space in three aspects of perceived, conceived, and lived. The new perceived space of learning positioned the focal student as unfamiliar in her new habitat. The conceived space also silenced the focal student because the conceived space exerted socio‐academic norms in which the individual was not invested. Finally, the lived space produced a silent individual in the sense that she appeared as less powerful in her interactions with other peers because her sociocultural and linguistic capabilities were not on a par with those of other peers. The study concludes that space is an active, dynamic, and social being that regulates the individual's interactions and that silence should be understood in relation to one's positioning by the social space, and the appropriation of space by the individual in social space. Notably, despite being positioned as a silent individual by the academic social space, the international student exercised agency both to respond to her specific temporal needs in the host learning context and to realize her future aspirations.

An exploration of how nurse education practices may influence student nurses’ perception of working in aged care as a registered nurse: A Foucauldian discourse analysis.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, fewer than two percent of graduating nurses identify aged care as a preferred employment option. Influences contributing to this statistic are multifactorial, ranging from societal norms and values, to health, education and economic policies. In this article, we argue that undergraduate nurse education is a contributor to this issue by constructing working in aged care as having lower status or less value than working in other health care areas. Foucauldian discourse analysis permitted us to examine this issue by exploring the dominant discourses being deployed in relation to clinical experience in aged care. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 senior academic staff members from Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institutions. Interview data were analysed and revealed how a ‘nurse education discourse’ and a ‘work ready discourse’, were shaping perceptions of aged care as a clinical experience in a variety of ways. These two discourses constructed aged care either: as a convenient learning space for developing foundation skills, or as a learning space to access only when other more desirable spaces were unavailable. Aged care was also promoted as a place of employment for the less able nursing student on graduation. Findings suggest that how and why aged care is utilised as a space to learn a range of nursing skills has the unintended effect of devaluing and discouraging employment in aged care settings. This article argues there is a collective need to go beyond curricula and uncover what is actually conveyed through the educational process to students about working in aged care.

The Perceptions of digital technology at a New Zealand tertiary institution.

The way educational institutions view certain technology has changed dramatically over the years, especially with the world lockdown in 2020. Understanding how digital technology is seen in an educational institution is the path to finding out how to improve and enhance the learning experience for students. A study by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) showed “digitalisation has been one of the main drivers of innovation in educational practices in the classroom in the past decade.” (Vlies, 2020)
 
 The study examined how different members of a New Zealand tertiary education institution perceive digital technology in their respective areas of study. It examined how technology is viewed by students from differing degrees and levels, as well as how these views differ within the undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study. The perception of educators was also examined to see how different departments view the tools they use in their respective programmes and how it differs from both past and present students. The methodology behind the research was using a mixed-method research approach to gain both qualitative and quantitative data. This method would allow for the Sequential Explanatory Strategy (Terrell, 2012) to interpret the study. The strategy is done via the collection and analysis of quantitative data followed by the collection and analysis of qualitative data. The quantitative data collection used an online survey to collect a large, population of anonymous participants.
 
 The online survey was conducted using the Qualtrics software and was administered amongst the population of the university. A particular focus was put on the undergraduate population, being the largest group of students, given their reliance on distance learning as a result of the lockdowns in New Zealand in 2020/21. The survey featured a multitude of questions to collect a mix of quantitative and qualitative data.
 
 The findings from the initial survey highlighted departments at the institution that have a stronger positive outlook towards using a higher amount digital technology in their curriculum. There was a subgroup that still preferred a more practical, face-to-face approach. In response to a question regarding whether digital technology adoption may be lagging in certain programmes/disciplines, the majority of participants gave the unknown response with the second-highest group saying it was likely. The main reason participants gave for the lag of adoption of digital technology was the underfunding of programmes, with some participants further suggesting a possible correlation between underfunding, understaffing and inadequate training. The latter coheres with the OECD study, with training being one of two key aspects of education policies: “First, teachers need sufficient training to deploy and teach about digital technologies. Second, countries need a standard for digital skills and literacy for students.” (Vlies, 2020)
 
 Ongoing follow-up interviews are currently being conducted to supplement the data from the online survey results. This study will be of interest to curriculum developers, decision-makers, policymakers, future students, educators, technologists, and other educational institution staff.

The Importance of an Increased Focus on Developing the “Whole Student” during and beyond Their Time at Higher Education, with a Particular Focus on First-Year Student

This is a theoretical document for the consideration of how we can enhance overall students’ academic and overall wellbeing. Because first-year students’ transition into higher education is particularly important for their remaining time at higher education, and to diminish their risk of attrition after their first year, this group will be particularly focused on. However, a focus on the “whole student” is important for all their time at university in the whole world. Also, considering the recently enhanced legal educational requirements with regards to overall student wellbeing for New Zealand tertiary institutions, there is for them an even more clear rationale for NZ tertiary institutions to focus on this topic. This article is aimed at advocating for an increased focus on the whole student development, drawing on much of our research so far, as well as research from across the world.

Tools of the Trade: Can Mobile Technologies Enhance the Learning Experience in a Tertiary Environment?

Mobile learning is fast becoming a global phenomenon, resulting in a change to the way education is being delivered. As society is now experiencing 'mobility' in all spheres, it is unsurprising that mobile devices are being used by both learners and educators as a natural extension of the tools and technologies available to enhance the learning environment. Mobile learning aims to provide another layer of support to the students' learning experience, alongside other delivery methods to enhance and support the learning process. This paper describes the results of a study carried out in a New Zealand tertiary institution which investigated whether the learning environment could be enhanced through the use of mobile technologies and thereby enrich the student learning experience in a tertiary environment. Open-ended questions and focus groups were used to gather perceptions of the students' experiences of the mobile enhanced learning environment. The analyses confirmed that the mobile enhanced learning environment was a positive one and that the increased levels of communication relating to both the learning content and administrative matters was found to have made a difference to their learning experience. Students' responses also highlighted issues that educators need to pay attention to when using mobile technologies. The issues raised suggest that a consistent and planned approach is needed when designing, planning and implementing a mobile enhanced learning environment.

Student perceptions of student evaluations: enabling student voice and meaningful engagement

A wealth of evidence about the place and value of student evaluations of teaching (SET) exists. Issues highlight often unspoken assumptions about the separation of evaluation from core teaching-learning processes. Despite the research presenting the teacher/institutional viewpoint, few studies address student perceptions of, and engagement with, SET. To examine the converse side of the arguments about SET, this study looked at SET from the perspective of the student. Experiences and perceptions about evaluations were invited from students from two New Zealand tertiary institutions through a questionnaire. The majority of students said that they were happy to provide feedback on teaching and courses, but systems of expectation, imposition on time, lack of knowledge about consequences of the SET system and the way their responses are used are barriers to their engagement. Shifting focus of research from the SET system to the effectiveness of partnerships between students, teachers and institution is suggested as a way to take future SET research in a different direction. This may foreground the positive contribution of SET to learning and teaching rather than repeated exploration of its inherent limitations and weaknesses.

The development and use of performance measures in New Zealand tertiary education institutions

This article provides a 30-year history of the development, use and impact of performance measures on tertiary education institutions in New Zealand. The study reveals that performance measurement emerged from the new public management initiatives and the multiple logics of government reforms to help address efficiency and accountability concerns of the tertiary education sector. The performance measurement culture became central to shaping and reshaping the character of educational politics, government policies and the management of educational outcomes. Performance measurement also created a web of unintended consequences with its own tensions, cynicism and complications. Enacted by the market logic and complemented by the business logic to maximise profits, performance measures compromised academic quality and caused rivalry with the norms of the academic profession. The study recommends that the distorting effects of performance measurement requires profound rethinking and careful management to ensure that it accomplishes what it is intended to accomplish.

"There is competition": Facing the reality of field education in New Zealand

INTRODUCTION: Anecdotal evidence of increasing competition for field education placements has raised concerns about the availability of quality learning opportunities for students and so it was considered timely to examine stakeholder perspectives.METHOD: In late 2014, 15 tertiary educators from 11 tertiary institutions and 31 social work students from three Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institutions engaged with the researcher in individual or focus group interviews on aspects of quality field education.FINDINGS: Overall, the tertiary educators revealed considerable pressure on them to secure quality student placements due to competition with other tertiary providers, limited placement opportunities in some locations, high workloads and inadequate funding. Students recognised these pressures but questioned whether the educators are adequately supported by the tertiary institution. Placement availability was also affected by organisations experiencing funding pressures, placement fatigue, limited space and physical resources, and high workloads.CONCLUSIONS: These qualitative findings raise questions for all the key stakeholders in field education: tertiary institutions, educators, social service organisations, the professional associations, the regulatory body and students. The findings from this study signal the need for a comprehensive, sector-wide examination of the social work field education context in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Innovating in the real world: exploring institutional effects on tertiary teacher innovations in New Zealand

Innovation is a key goal of many tertiary education and distance learning providers. This research explores how teachers and educational designers across three New Zealand tertiary institutions worked to innovatively achieve teaching goals. A longitudinal design using the Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) framework explored the influence of individual and institutional factors on innovation in online course design. Data included interviews, observations of practice, and publicly available institutional documents, which were coded using a grounded theory approach. Peer relationships and institutional technologies were significant in enabling staff to work innovatively. Constraining factors included high workload, research pressures, lack of time to experiment, and limited technological support. Contradictions between institutional policies and teachers’ goals in innovating were noted. This research has relevance to those working in a variety of educational settings due to the increasing influence of institutional and government policy on teaching practice.

Addressing plagiarism at a New Zealand tertiary institution

The growth in international student numbers in New Zealand in the last decade has brought to the forefront the topic of plagiarism. Attitudes to plagiarism may differ in the students’ home country from New Zealand, for traditional, cultural reasons. As a result, some students have problems adapting to western viewpoints on plagiarism. This paper describes the measures taken at one tertiary institution, in particular compulsory workshops and a test, which have virtually eliminated the problem.

Student Views on the Cost of and Access to Textbooks: An Investigation at University of Otago (New Zealand)

The rising cost of textbooks is influencing students’ choice of courses, as well as the quality of their learning experience once they are enrolled in a course, according to recent studies. This paper builds on those studies by exploring the possible effects that textbook costs may be having on study behaviours of students at one New Zealand tertiary institution: University of Otago. Perceptions of undergraduate students (n-811) about cost of, and access to, textbooks and possible influences on their study behaviours were gathered through a questionnaire. Results showed that students: are more likely to buy textbooks than access them through libraries; experienced purchasing expensive textbooks that were rarely used; questioned the value of textbooks; described alternative resource-seeking behaviours; and are heavily reliant on alternatives suggested by lecturers. Perceptions about affordability and academic value, access issues and consequential influences on study-related behaviours and attitudes are discussed.

Intervention and Outcomes for Pasifika Students: A New Zealand Private Tertiary Education Provider (PTE) Case Study

Pasifika learners comprise a significant number of students in the New Zealand education system. In terms of educational performance, Pasifika learners generally have lower success rates and academic achievements than other student groups at both secondary and tertiary levels. The aim of this paper was to review current governance, investigate student support and evaluate outcomes at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Data collection occurred in three phases. The first stage of the research saw 37 student questionnaires completed between May and June 2014, phase two consisted of semi-structured interviews with graduate students between September and October 2015. Phase three in March 2016 entailed the analysis of learner achievement records. The results of the research illustrated that Pasifika students’ experience was improved through a variety of learning support systems being available to them. Participants identified that the most valuable student support systems were study skills support and study buddies. Pasifika students also recognised that having a supportive environment that respected Pasifika cultural values and building trust in relationships with staff enhanced their learning experience. In conclusion, a variety of appropriate support systems and a culturally sensitive environment are needed to enrich Pasifika students’ tertiary learning experience and achieving positive graduate outcomes. The insights provided by this paper will help develop student support systems that improve graduate outcomes of Pasifika learners, forming a template that can be implemented at tertiary institutions in New Zealand.

Modifying status effects in diverse student groups in New Zealand tertiary institutions: Elizabeth Cohen’s legacy for teacher education

New Zealand tertiary classrooms are a mix of New Zealand’s ethnically diverse domestic students and predominantly Asian international students. This multicultural diversity, while having potential to enhance educational experience, brings challenges for teachers in the use of cooperative learning. A major challenge is status inequality in diverse student groups. Elizabeth Cohen’s work on status is relevant to an understanding of status issues in New Zealand educational institutions as it gives educators the sociological framework and the practical tools to meet this challenge. This paper, based on a 12-year research study into cooperative learning resulting in a national teacher education programme run by the authors, examines Cohen’s ideas and their relevance to the New Zealand context. It identifies status activators and issues in New Zealand student groups and recommends actions and interventions to modify the activation of status effects. The aim is to give teachers tools to exploit the full range of expertise and experience in diverse tertiary student groups.