Ako Victoria

Ako Victoria is a one-day learning and teaching event in Wellington open to all staff. It's hosted annually by the University’s Centre for Academic Development.

Ako Symposium Logo

Ako Symposium events bring Victoria University of Wellington staff together to talk about learning and teaching, and celebrate successes in the field. They also give staff the opportunity to:

  • meet with other academics, managers, and support staff committed to improving learning and teaching
  • share the outcomes of new learning and teaching research
  • share innovations in digital learning and teaching
  • highlight good practice in learning and teaching.

Ako Symposium

Ako Symposium 2022—“Māwhitiwhiti—Different Pedagogies for the Future”
The word ‘māwhitiwhiti’ refers to cross-stitch patterns in flax weaving. The threads go in different directions but altogether create a beautiful and effective pattern. ‘Māwhiti’ can also be used to express the idea of crossing over, connecting and moving on. In relation to the Ako Symposium, we see “Māwhitiwhiti’ as conceptually stitching together ‘threads' or different ideas about pedagogy, with an emphasis on finding connection and looking forward.

2022 Ako Symposium programme and links to recorded videos:

Monday 5 September

Professor Wendy Larner: Ako Symposium opening

Sally Hill (FHSS): Transformation of 200- and 300-level Italian courses into blended/online offerings

Michael Winikoff (WSBG): Innovations in teaching from SIM

Rachel McKee (FHSS): H5P

Tuesday 6 September

Fuapepe Rimoni (Educ): Pacific Educators Speak

Fran Kewene (Health): Performing Pūrakau as pedagogy

Mele Tupou Vaitohi (Law): Developing a Pasifika Pedagogy in Aotearoa Legal Education

Linda Hogg (Educ): Activating ako through culturally responsive assessment: Trialling a new idea

Simon McCallum (Eng): Student agency for engagement

Wednesday 7 September

VUW Library (OER) Working Group: Choose Your Own Adventure with OER

Stella McIntosh (Academic Office): Academic Integrity

Cathal Doyle and Andreas Drechsler (WSBG): HyFlex course architecture

Simon McCallum (Eng): Teaching and assessment with artificial intelligence

Friday 9 September

Kate Schick, Claire Timperley (FHSS): Subversive pedagogies in pandemic teaching

Sarah Ross, Jay Nieuwland (FHSS): Developing courses focusing on gender and sexuality

Dennitza Gabrakova (FHSS): Fluency and Fitness

More information

If you want to know more about Ako Victoria or see material from previous conferences, email cad-contact@vuw.ac.nz.