VicTeach events 2023

VicTeach events include workshops, seminars, guest lectures, and brainstorming sessions. Find out about VicTeach events in 2023.

15 February

VicTeach 2023 kick-off

VicTeach invited everyone to join us for the 2023 kick-off event on Wednesday 15 February, 11 am–12:30 pm in AM103 (Kelburn campus) and via Zoom.

During the kick-off we

  • Talked about where VicTeach has been, and our aspirations for the future
  • Heard from a panel of community members who gave us a sense of what VicTeach is about and what it is like to be involved in hosting or participating in an event
  • Enjoyed some kai and got to know each other

31 March and ongoing

Learning Analytics Hub

Last year we launched the VicTeach Learning Analytics Hub and had monthly meetings during which we discussed what potential learning analytics has for teaching and learning practice and research at Te Herenga Waka.

This year, Namali Suraweera from CAD is joining Allan Sylvester and Irina Elgort as a facilitator of the Learning Analytics Hub. This hub is for those of you who are interested in developing data informed approaches to understanding and supporting our students’ learning.

The timing of joining this VicTeach Hub is opportune, as we are at a turning point in the University teaching and learning cycle with two important initiatives underway: An introduction of the new university learning and teaching platform, Nuku, and Paerangi - Student Success Framework, including the establishment of Tītoko - the Centre for Student Success.

If you'd like to join the Learning Analytics hub and contribute to the development of an exciting new initiative, email one of the co-leads: Namali Suraweera, Irina Elgort or Allan Sylvester or join the LA Hub Teams space.

The first VicTeach Learning Analytics Hub meeting of 2023 was on Friday 31 March 12:50 - 2 PM in TTR104 and also on Zoom. In the first meeting, we ran a hands-on workshop on using Learning Analytics Tools in Nuku.

4 April and ongoing

WIL & Career Learning Hub

In late 2022, VicTeach launched a new hub: “The Work Integrated and Career Learning VicTeach hub”.

The aim is to provide a forum where professional and academic staff working in this space or who are keen to find out more about it, can:

  • informally learn from and support each other in our work
  • encourage and inspire each other to explore how we could bring some components of WIL (work integrated learning) and career learning into our work with students.

The Hub envisions bringing together a broad range of professional and academic staff already working in this space or with an interest in it. It will allow us to share questions, ideas, and tips about WIL and career learning.

Please join us for the first WIL & Career Learning Hub meeting for 2023.  

  • What: a re-introduction to the hub, an informal chat of what’s on top for people in this space in 2023, and a more in-depth discussion on one topic chosen by you. We have some suggestions from the hub members last year that we’ll use to suggest topics for discussion.
  • When: Tuesday 4th April, 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Where: Please join us on Zoom: https://vuw.zoom.us/my/victeach

The Hub also has a Teams space for community building. Please use the joining link to access the Team and introduce yourself in the introductions channel.

16 June

Honouring Te Tiriti at the University: Indigenous Inclusion or Indigenising the University?

Organised by: Senior Lecturer Emily Beausoleil, Associate Professor Te Kawehau Hoskins, and Professor Alison Jones, supported with funding from VicTeach.

At least since the 1990s, universities have sought to fulfil commitments to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The Education and Training Act (2020) has made it plain that New Zealand universities, as state institutions, must go beyond the commitment statements. They have a duty to ensure good Māori engagement. For universities, under this Act, the Tertiary Education Commission’s (2020) ‘Tertiary Education Strategy’ highlights such priorities as: success for Māori students through barrier-free access, learning settings free from racism, relationships with whānau and communities, responsiveness to learners’ identities and the incorporation of te reo and tikanga Māori into everyday activities. But what does this look like in practice, and what kinds of key changes to policy and practice in universities help realise this vision?

In this talk, two educational scholars—Māori (Te Kawehau Hoskins) and Pākehā (Alison Jones)—considered two ways this rhetoric can be critically understood in universities in order to move forward from what feels like a ‘stuck place’. ‘Indigenous inclusion’ has been the most common approach to Māori engagement in university education in Aotearoa-New Zealand. Increasingly, another orientation, based on different premises, which might be called ‘indigenisation’, is becoming evident.

In the presentation component of this special event, Hoskins and Jones argued that indigenisation offers more hopeful possibilities for New Zealand universities as we continue to think about our obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Following this presentation, staff working from across the university had an opportunity to discuss together how this might apply to how we work at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

19 July

Celebrating ten years of VicTeach

Debate poster indicating time and location of the event

The first VicTeach event was held ten years ago. We felt that it was only right to mark this anniversary by bringing staff and students together for an event that celebrates, in a light-hearted way, the great teaching that happens at this university.

We would therefore like to invite you to attend a debate between staff and students:

We have challenged the Victoria University Debating Society to participate in a debate "This house believes that ignorance is bliss" against a team of academic teaching staff.

We had a great turnout of very supportive attendees, making it a truly memorable and engaging celebration of the VicTeach anniversary!

28 August

VicTeach one-day retreat

This year VicTeach is trialling something new—a one-day retreat in Wellington.

This retreat was open to professional, academic and teaching staff who are passionate about teaching and the student experience and would like to spend dedicated time working on a teaching-related project in a collegial atmosphere at the beautiful Ōtari-Wilton's Bush.

Date: Monday 28 August

Time: 9 am–5 pm

Address: Leonard Cockayne Centre, 160 Wilton Road, Ōtari Wilton

Contact Anne Macaskill if you have any questions or view this event on LibCal.

13-17 November

VicTeach Retreat

Acknowledging the difficult time that many of our members and colleagues are currently experiencing, VicTeach is once again supporting a retreat on the Kāpiti Coast, with an extra focus this year on care and community. It will run from 13 –17 November 2023 at Waihōanga River Lodge and Retreat, Ōtaki Forks, approximately one hour north of Wellington.

The VicTeach retreat is open to professional, academic and teaching staff who are passionate about teaching and the student experience. We welcome applications from all eligible staff who are on contract at the time of the deadline: 8 September 2023.

Please register your interest here: https://forms.gle/aWQNAhrTF5T9oVC39

The retreat is an opportunity to explore and develop teaching-related research and/or to spend dedicated time working on a teaching-related project, such as course development, (re-)design or evaluation, or for reflecting on your teaching philosophy or writing your Te Arawai Ako Fellowship application (among other examples). While the retreat primarily provides space and time for dedicating writing and thinking time, there are also opportunities to use other spaces on site for parallel workshops and discussions around common topics of interest.

Participants are welcome to stay overnight or join just for the days.

The cost of accommodation and catering has been fully covered by VicTeach although we do ask you to cover your own travel costs and encourage (and facilitate) car-sharing where possible.

We try to accommodate everyone, but spaces are limited and will be distributed based on expressions of interest and time of application. We will also keep a waiting list as there are often last-minute cancellations. We confirm the final participation list by early October. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Rhian Salmon or Catherine Doughty.