What helps and hinders indigenous student success in higher education health programmes: a qualitative study using the Critical Incident Technique

Abstract

Tertiary institutions aim to provide high quality teaching and learning that meet the academic needs for an increasingly diverse student body including indigenous students. Tātou Tātou is a qualitative research project utilising Kaupapa Ma¯ori research methodology and the Critical Incident Technique interview method to investigate the teaching and learning practices that help or hinder Ma¯ori student success in non-lecture settings within undergraduate health programmes at the University of Auckland. Forty-one interviews were completed from medicine, health sciences, nursing and pharmacy. A total of 1346 critical incidents were identified with 67% helping and 33% hindering Ma¯ori student success. Thirteen sub-themes were grouped into three overarching themes representing potential areas of focus for tertiary institutional undergraduate health programme development: Māori student support services, undergraduate programme, and Ma¯ori student whanaungatanga. Academic success for indigenous students requires multi-faceted, inclusive, culturally responsive and engaging teaching and learning approaches delivered by educators and student support staff.

Keywords:

• diversity
• health
• indigenous
• Ma¯ori
• professional
• student learning
• success
• tertiary
• undergraduate

Acknowledgements

The Tātou Tātou project was funded by Ako Aotearoa National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, National Project Fund (Ma¯ori Initiatives) 2008 funding stream (Project No. MIP08-002). We acknowledge the contribution of the Ma¯ori student participants and the Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Medicine and Population Health at the University of Auckland. Special thanks to Te Kupenga Hauora Ma¯ori for support to complete this manuscript. An advisory group including Ma¯ori, non-Ma¯ori and international indigenous community and research expertise was convened to oversee all aspects of the research process.

Notes

1. Tātou Tātou focuses on Ma¯ori students only as stipulated by the Ako Aotearoa funding stream.

2. Whanaungatanga refers to notions of relationship, kinship, sense of family connection. Whakawhanaungatanga refers to the process of establishing such relationships. In Māori dictionary online, Retrieved July 25, 2013, from http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/.

3. Ma¯ori Health Week is a four-day experiential learning exercise with students assigned to interprofessional groups made up of a mixture of medical, nursing and pharmacy students. The groups address health issues where Ma¯ori are particularly disadvantaged.

4. The Hauora Ma¯ori domain requires students to develop a critical understanding of the social, cultural, political, economic and environmental determinants impacting on Ma¯ori health.