Naming the numbers is a powerful exercise that enables us to call to account government and universities over how their current structures and practices continue to exclude certain bodies from institutions.
– Naepi, 2019, p.220
Strong community ties and support systems are essential for the success of Pacific staff and students. Pacific scholars and students often find themselves isolated and underrepresented, leading to challenges in forming academic identities and networks necessary for success in higher education’s competitive and frequently exclusionary environment. Communities of Pacific peoples in universities foster a sense of belonging, motivation, and peer support. The active involvement and integration of Pacific communities within universities also promotes better educational outcomes.
Additional Resources
- Why isn’t my professor Pasifika? A snapshot of the academic workforce in New Zealand universities
- The Pakaru ‘Pipeline’: Māori and Pasifika Pathways within the Academy
- Seen but unheard: navigating turbulent waters as Māori and Pacific postgraduate students in STEM
- Pacific university graduates in New Zealand: what helps and hinders completion
