Research at New Zealand Tertiary College

New Zealand Tertiary College (NZTC) fosters a strong research culture to benefit both our staff and our students. Our staff regularly present at conferences, complete higher academic qualifications, write for journals and other professional publications, and acquire research grants through individual and collaborative projects. We also produce and disseminate He Kupu, a specialist early childhood research journal.

Our staff are engaged in a variety of research areas including: Early Childhood Studies, Teacher Education, Social Science, Social Psychology, Primary Education, Philosophy of Education and Arts Education.

Research Committee

We have a dedicated Research Committee that advises on and supports staff and student research output. Committee members include: Selena Fox (CEO), James Ward (Business Operations Manager), Rachel Williams (Registrar), Dr. Christopher Naughton and Dr. Juliette Smeed (Academic Representatives).

Research Ethics Committee

The College recognises the need for adults and/or children to be participants in educational research. The College is also aware of its responsibility for ensuring that the privacy, safety, health, personal, professional, social sensitivities and welfare of participants are adequately protected. Thus, the College has established the NZTC Research Ethics Committee (NZTCREC), which reviews and approves the adequacy of protection for all research participants and provides advice and guidance for researchers who conduct their research within the context of NZTC regarding matters of research ethics.

The Committee consists of academic staff, curriculum staff, and an external advisor. Current members are Marek Tesar (Chair), Sean Dolan, Richard Heraud, Karen Miller, Fiona McAlevey, Chris Naughton and Karen Aspden (external member).

Current NZTC Research Projects

 eMM (e-learning Maturity Model) project

A collaborative project (between Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, The University of Auckland, Waikato Institute of Technology, AUT University, New Zealand Tertiary College , The University of Canterbury, and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi) funded by AKO Aotearoa.

This project will produce detailed qualitative evidence describing technology-driven institutional change management approaches and their impact on e-learning capability as well as evidence of ways that e-learning technology can enable strategic and operational outcomes.

NZTC Principal Investigators: Selena Fox, Sean Dolan

Changing Places

A joint project between New Zealand Tertiary College and The University of Auckland which researches teaching innovations for music students and early childhood education students. We have gained funding for this project from AKO Aotearoa. See article in the AKO Aotearoa December 2009 Newsletter .

NZTC Princial Investigator: Chris Naughton

He Kupu

The online publication He Kupu (meaning 'The Word') supports early childhood teachers, students, and teacher educators through publication of research and discussion on topics of relevance to early childhood education. Visit He Kupu here.