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AUTPROFILE2018
AUCKLAN
D U
NIVERSITY O
F TECHN
OLO
GY AUT PRO
FILE 2018
CONTENTSABOUT AUTThrough the years 04
By the numbers 06
Faculties & schools 08
2018 HIGHLIGHTSResearch 12
Brain & health 14
SKA & astronomy 18
Workplace research & gender equality 20
Social impact & issues 24
Notable events & visitors 28
Student achievement 32
Teaching excellence 38
Employability & co-ops 40
International 44
Sustainability 46
Awards & achievements 48
Appointments 50
Key external appointments 54
Facilities 56
ABOUT AUT
WELCOME Since AUT was established as a university on 1 January 2000, we have undergone
remarkable change and development. 2018 was a
particularly significant year for our university.
Named in the top 350 institutions worldwide by Times
Higher Education, we have improved our ranking by around 300 places in just three years. This latest result is driven by improvements in our research performance, most notably the impact our work is having on other research globally, which places AUT first in New Zealand for this measure. This outcome is testament to the outstanding efforts of our academic staff.
The opening of Ngā Wai Hono was another major step forward. Officially opened by the Prime Minister, the modern, flexible building at our City Campus was envisaged as a “mega-tool for learning”, and is designed to support greater collaboration between the disciplines of engineering, art and design, computer science and mathematics.
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we launched the AUT Sustainability
Roadmap to 2025. This outlines our approach to advancing knoweldge and understanding of the issues and opportunities around creating a sustainable future, and how we can contribute through our research, teaching and management of our operations.
This third edition of the AUT Profile summarises these and other notable events and developments across the University. It showcases examples of activities and achievements taking place at AUT every day, and the staff whose work has contributed to this.
We are rightly proud of our achievements, our staff and our students. Underpinning all of this is AUT Directions to 2025 - a vision for the future, which centres on our mission to support AUT students to become great graduates.
I hope you find the AUT Profile 2018 informative and inspiring.
Derek McCormack Vice-Chancellor
54
ABOUT AUT
AUT THROUGH THE YEARS
1895Auckland Technical
School opens offering night classes in vocational
education and trades
1906The institution is
renamed Auckland Technical College
1980ATI opens its new
Akoranga Campus on the North Shore
1989ATI becomes
Auckland Institute of Technology (AIT)
2012AUT is ranked in world’s top 500
universities (top 3%) by QS
2015AUT becomes New Zealand’s second largest university,
with total enrolments reaching 19,800 EFTS
1963The technical division is renamed Auckland
Technical Institute (ATI)
1964The technical high school is relocated to Western Springs, eventually becoming
Western Springs College
2000AIT makes history as New Zealand’s first
polytechnic to become a university, and is renamed
Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
1913The College is renamed
Seddon Memorial Technical College in remembrance of the Premier and Minister of Education, Richard Seddon
1960The College separates into two institutions: a technical high school
and a technical institute
1991AIT becomes the first polytechnic
authorised to award a degree
qualification
2017950 doctoral students
are enrolled at AUT, with postgraduate
students now making up 18% of students
1970ATI’s first satellite
institute, Manukau Technical Institute,
opens in Otara
1976ATI transfers
programmes to establish a second institute,
Carrington Technical Institute (later renamed
Unitec), in Mt Albert
2009AUT partners with the Millennium Institute
of Sport and Health to open AUT Millennium
in Mairangi Bay
2010The South Campus, located in Manukau, is officially opened, with more than 400 founding students
AUT celebrates its 10th birthday. In its first 10 years as a university, it:
• Graduated 25,000 students from undergraduate and postgraduatedegrees
• Graduated 110 PhDs and other doctorates
• Produced 8000 peer-reviewedresearch outputs
• Received $145 million in research-related income
• Grew total enrolments to 19,000 EFTS, with over 80% in undergraduate or postgraduate degrees, and 4400 international students from 93 countries
• Saw annual postgraduate enrolment climb to 2000 EFTS, with 300 PhD students
2010
2007AUT installs New Zealand’s first
radio telescope in Warkworth – a major step towards New Zealand’s participation in the international
mega-science project, the Square Kilometre Array
2018AUT is ranked in the world’s top 350 (1.2%) of universities by Times Higher Education, and #1 in New Zealand for
global research impact
Students come from
countries
137
international students
5,600
for Internationalisation, Teaching, Employability,
Facilities and Inclusiveness (QS Stars)
doctoral studentsresearch centres and institutes with
world-class expertise
of available domestic graduates employed within 9 months of completing study(includes full-time and part-time work)
99460+
5 OUTOF 5
95%
• Art & Design• Business • Clinical Sciences• Colab: Creative Technologies• Communication Studies• Economics• Education• Engineering, Computer &
Mathematical Sciences• Hospitality & Tourism• Interprofessional Health
Studies• Language & Culture• Law • Public Health &
Psychosocial Studies• Science• Social Sciences & Public
Policy• Sport & Recreation• Te Ara Poutama - Māori &
Indigenous Development
29,250students
campuses across Auckland:• Manukau• Auckland CBD• North Shore
• AUT Millennium • Warkworth Radio
Astronomical Observatory
• AUT Centre for Refugee Education
specialist locations:3
17 schools
3,400staff
WE HAVE
3
101stin the world
1stin New Zealand
(Times Higher Education)for global research impact
25th
in the world
1stin Australasia &
for international outlook(Times Higher Education)
11%Māori students
17%Pacific students
&
(Times Higher Education)
WE OFFER EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP OUTSTANDING GRADUATES
WORLD-RANKED SUBJECTS TOP 50 HOSPITALITY & TOURISM | SPORTSTOP 100 NURSINGTOP 150 ACCOUNTING & FINANCE | ART & DESIGNTOP 200 BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT STUDIES |
COMMUNICATION & MEDIA STUDIESTOP 250 COMPUTER SCIENCE & INFORMATION SYSTEMS |
LINGUISTICSTOP 300 EDUCATION | LAWTOP 350 ECONOMICS & ECONOMETRICS |
ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING (QS World University Subject Rankings 2018)
&
(by EFTS)
AUT BY THE NUMBERS
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ABOUT AUT
FACULTIES & SCHOOLS
98
ABOUT AUT
FACULTY OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESSchool of Clinical Sciences The School of Clinical Sciences delivers programmes leading to professional registration in midwifery, nursing, oral health, podiatry, occupational science and therapy, and physiotherapy. The School also offers New Zealand’s only university degree in paramedicine.
School of Interprofessional Health Studies The School of Interprofessional Health Studies delivers the interdisciplinary papers in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences degree programmes.
School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies The School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies’ programmes cover the fields of biostatistics and epidemiology, psychology, psychotherapy and counselling, and public health.
School of Science Programmes in the School of Science have a focus on scientific innovation and include majors in applied ecology, biomedical science, chemistry and food science.
School of Sport and Recreation Programmes taught through the School of Sport and Recreation cover health, physical education and coaching, physical activity, nutrition and the outdoors, sport and exercise science, and sport leadership and management. AUT is ranked in the top 50 in the world for sports subjects by QS.
TE ARA POUTAMA (FACULTY OF MĀORI AND INDIGENOUS DEVELOPMENT)Te Ara Poutama offers programmes with a focus on Māori development, language revitalisation, Māori media and te reo Māori, as well as leadership, innovation and technology.
FACULTY OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND LAWBusiness School The Business School offers programmes that focus on accounting, business information systems, entrepreneurship and innovation, finance, human resource management and employment relations, international business, management, marketing, and sustainable enterprise. The School’s AACSB accreditation puts it in the top 5% of business schools in the world.
School of Economics The School of Economics offers programmes in micro and macroeconomics, econometrics, industrial organisation, economics, natural resources and society, growth and development economics, economics of labour and health policy, international trade economics, and international corporate finance.
Law School AUT’s Law School offers the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree and postgraduate programmes towards the Master of Laws and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
FACULTY OF CULTURE AND SOCIETYSchool of Education The School of Education delivers the University’s programmes in early childhood education, and primary and secondary teaching, with specialities in early childhood and primary Pasifika teaching.
School of Hospitality and Tourism AUT’s School of Hospitality and Tourism offers programmes in international hospitality and tourism management, event management, culinary arts and pâtisserie. Hospitality and Leisure Management at AUT is ranked in the top 50 in the world by QS.
School of Language and Culture The School of Language and Culture teaches programmes that focus on language in its widest sense, with qualifications in creative writing, English and new media studies, international studies, Chinese, Japanese, translation and interpreting, New Zealand Sign Language and language teaching.
School of Social Sciences and Public Policy The inter-connected fields of social sciences and public policy come together in this school’s programmes, with majors in conflict resolution, criminology, psychology and social sciences.
FACULTY OF DESIGN AND CREATIVE TECHNOLOGIESSchool of Art and Design AUT’s School of Art and Design delivers the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Bachelor of Design, with majors in communication design, digital design, fashion design, industrial design, spatial design and textile design.
Colab: Creative Technologies Colab brings together the creative arts, design, digital media, computing, engineering and entrepreneurship in its mixed-discipline and entrepreneurial-focused programmes.
School of Communication Studies The School of Communication Studies offers programmes focused on advertising creativity, creative industries, digital media, journalism, public relations, radio and television and screen productions.
School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences The University’s School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences offers programmes in computer science, built environment, electrical and electronic engineering, information technology and software engineering, mathematical sciences and mechanical engineering.
2018 HIGHLIGHTS
AUT PROFILE 2018
2018
RESEARCH 2018 saw AUT recognised as New Zealand’s #1 university for research impact in the Times Higher Education rankings – reflecting research impact through citations by other scholars around the world.
NEW MARSDEN FUNDING FOR TOP RESEARCHERS Five projects led by AUT researchers were granted funding totalling $3.6 million in new research for the University in the 2018 Marsden Fund round.
The Marsden Fund supports New Zealand’s best investigator-initiated research in the areas of science, engineering, maths, social sciences and the humanities. It is regarded as a hallmark of excellence, allowing New Zealand’s best researchers to explore their ideas.
AUT recipients and their research areas: Dr Cameron Weber, School of Science - Structure and reactivity in nanostructured ionic solvents
Associate Professor Sharyn Graham Davies, School of Social Sciences and Public Policy - Accessing assisted reproduction: Social infertility and family formation
Associate Professor Albert Refiti, School of Art and Design - Vā Moana: Space and relationality in Pacific thought and identity
Professor Richard Siegert, School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies - Untangling inflammation and depression in a Pacific youth cohort
Dr Katey Thom, Law School - Responding to citizens in mental distress: Exploring the preventative role of community police
NEW RESEARCH CENTRE - INDIGENOUS LAW RESEARCH TO THE FORE In April, the AUT Law School boosted research into indigenous law with the opening of its Centre for Indigenous Rights and Law.
The Centre’s key focus is to give prominence to indigenous law and laws affecting indigenous people in Aotearoa and across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Alongside research, the Centre will collaborate with other universities and academics, and host conferences and public talks to disseminate research and knowledge about indigenous rights and law. The Centre will contribute to the
teaching of both undergraduate and postgraduate law at AUT in a way that is appropriate, respectful, meaningful and useful to indigenous people.
The Centre’s advisory panel includes the Honourable Michael Kirby, a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, Professor Richard Monette of the University of Wisconsin Law School, and AUT Law School Professor Kris Gledhill.
1312
RESEARCH
SYNCHROTRON TO BE USED IN DR CAMERON WEBER’S RESEARCH
AUT PROFILE 2018
RESEARCH THEME
BRAIN & HEALTH
GLOBAL EXPERTS AT BURDEN OF DISEASE BRAIN SUMMIT International researchers, health professionals and policy makers gathered at AUT in November for The Global Burden of Disease Brain Summit - a collaboration between AUT, The Lancet Neurology and the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. The study was coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington.
The summit brought together the world’s leading minds and best available data on the global burden of neurological disorders, together with those committed to improving public health outcomes. It was the first time GBD estimates on neurological disorders were examined collectively by experts from around the world.
As the leading cause of disability and
second cause of death, neurological disorders represent a huge global health problem. Worldwide, one in three people suffer from a neurological disorder; in the past 15 years, the proportion of people affected has increased from 20% to more than 30%. Rapidly ageing populations and negative health trends among youth are contributing to a further influx of neurological disorders expected within the next decade.
The Lancet Neurology released a special series of 11 papers on the global burden of neurological disorders at the summit. These examined the increasing public health threat of neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, migraine and tension-type headaches, motor neuron diseases, meningitis, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
NEUROLOGIST HONOURED FOR INNOVATION IN STROKE PREVENTION Professor Valery Feigin, an internationally-renowned neurologist at AUT, was the recipient of the Australasian 2018 Excellence in Stroke Award in recognition of his ground-breaking contribution to stroke prevention.
Valery is the Director of the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences at AUT, which conducts epidemiological studies and clinical trials to improve the health of people with neurological disorders.
In 2014, his team launched the Stroke Riskometer™ – a free mobile app that
assesses individual risk of stroke within the next five to 10 years. The app aims to educate people about the warning signs and risk factors of stroke and motivate them to change their behaviour.
In New Zealand one in six people will experience a stroke. It is now the second leading cause of death and disability
worldwide – yet more than 80% of strokes could be prevented.
The Stroke Riskometer™ has been translated into 14 languages and downloaded more than 150,000 times in 78 countries.
RUTHERFORD DISCOVERY FELLOWSHIP FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY RESEARCH Associate Professor Alice Theadom, from the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies, was awarded a Rutherford Discovery Fellowship for research entitled ‘Developing a biopsychosocial model of mild traumatic brain injury’.
Her research will examine potentially hidden, longer-term impacts of mild traumatic brain injury, such as people’s ability to maintain social relationships and integrate well in community life - and explore new possible treatment options.
The Rutherford Discovery Fellowship supports New Zealand’s most talented early to mid-career researchers for a five-year term.
RESEARCH
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AUT PROFILE 2018
HEALTH INNOVATION TO CUT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ADMISSIONS Research for the NZ Productivity Commission released in October found a team-based primary health care practice model reduces emergency department admissions to hospitals.
The research ‘Health Care Homes: Early Evidence in Wellington’ investigated the implementation in Wellington of a multi-disciplinary team-based model known as Health Care Homes.
Described as a “whole of practice transformation”, the Health Care Homes model involves health professionals working together in new ways and using tools such as an online patient portal and GP telephone triage to tailor services to patients’ needs.
The main finding of the research was a statistically significant drop in emergency department admissions for patients at practices that implemented the Health Care Homes model.
The research was undertaken as part of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into measuring and improving state sector productivity.
THE SCIENCE AGAINST SUGAR School of Sport and Recreation Professor Grant Schofield co-authored the most comprehensive report on ‘the science against sugar’ alongside two leading international experts on obesity.
The trio advocated an eight-point plan, to reverse the type 2 diabetes epidemic within three years, which has been backed by eminent public health scientists around the world. The recommendations include taxes on all sugary foods, labelling of sugar in teaspoons rather than grams, and establishing healthy eating and physical activity as separate and independent public health goals.
The report noted the affordability, accessibility and acceptability of sugar is one of the unsolved problems of our time.
Grant co-authored the report “The science against sugar, alone, is insufficient in tackling the obesity and type 2 diabetes crises” with Professor Robert Lustig (University of California, US) and Dr Aseem Malhorta (NHS Consultant Cardiologist, UK).
RESEARCH
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AUT PROFILE 2018
WORLD’S LARGEST SCIENCE PROJECT WINS TOP RESEARCH HONOUR New Zealand’s contribution to the world’s biggest science project received a top honour for research and innovation when AUT and the NZ SKA Alliance won the MinterEllisonRuddWatts Research & Business Partnership Award at the 2018 KiwiNet Awards.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is the world’s largest science project and will result in two huge radio telescope arrays, one in South Africa and one in Western Australia. The data these arrays will collect will help answer some of the world’s biggest science questions: what are the ongoing effects from the Big Bang? How do different galaxies evolve? Is there extra-terrestrial life?
The biggest benefits of the SKA for New Zealand are not in space, but on the ground. SKA is the biggest ICT project in the world, encompassing big data science, high-performance computing and software engineering.
The SKA represents numerous firsts for New Zealand: it is the world’s largest big data project, the
largest science project the country has ever been able to participate in on a national scale, and likely New Zealand’s largest involvement in an international ICT project.
RESEARCH THEME
SKA & ASTRONOMY
HELPING LAUNCH SPACEX ROCKET The world watched as Elon Musk’s commercial space company SpaceX successfully launched Falcon Heavy in February. AUT’s Radio Astronomy and Space Research team, based in Warkworth, contributed to the project.
The Warkworth radio telescopes monitored the rocket’s progress as it travelled over New Zealand, tracking its location, speed and trajectory during the launch and beyond of what was described as “the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two”.
Taking off from the same site that launched Apollo 11 towards the moon in 1969, Falcon Heavy made history by launching the first car (Elon Musk’s own red Tesla) into space.
AUT ASTRONOMERS CAPTURE RARE STELLAR EVENT In May, global scientists witnessed a unique insight into how matter behaves in extreme environments, after observing an extraordinary stellar event for the first time.
AUT, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and University of Tasmania staff and students had been monitoring a star, known as the Vela Pulsar, for the past four years waiting to observe its ‘glitch’ as it happened. Vela’s glitches occur every three to four years, when the core of the star, which has been spinning separately from the crust, grabs the crust and causes it to speed up.
The glitch took five seconds to occur- slightly quicker than expected. It also disrupted the immediate environment around the star, known as the magnetosphere.
Capturing this event means that scientists will be better able to understand how matter and energy behave at extreme temperatures and pressures. Knowing that could eventually inform the design of devices or machines that must operate in harsh environments like fusion reactors.
The result will inform the design of another research project that is currently underway using AUT’s radio telescopes in Warkworth. By regularly monitoring another type of neutron star called a magnetar, which have ultra-strong magnetic fields, the research team hopes it will capture this type of star glitching as well.
RESEARCH
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AUT PROFILE 2018
RESEARCH THEME
WORKPLACE RESEARCH & GENDER EQUALITY
DOING MORE WITH LESS AUT research confirming that a New Zealand company’s decision to pilot a four-day working week was an unmitigated success, took the world by storm in July.
Prompted by findings that suggested modern workers are only productive for about three hours in a working day, Perpetual Guardian, a company which manages trusts, estates and will planning, launched a two-month trial of a four-day working week, with staff still getting paid for five days.
Surveying employees at the end, Professor Jarrod Haar from the Department of Management and researchers from The University of Auckland, reported that 24% of staff said their work life balance
had improved and 7% saw reduced stress – all while maintaining the same level of productivity.
“This reflects the power of organisational support and highlights the performance benefits that can be achieved when an organisation takes the risk to trust employees and support them in a new approach to work,” Jarrod said.
The research attracted global media interest, including The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC News.
GENDER AND DIVERSITY GROUP TURNS TEN AUT’s Gender and Diversity Research Group reached a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of research and debate on gender and diversity issues within the community.
Formed with the aim of establishing a network of researchers within and beyond AUT, the group has developed a thriving research community in New Zealand and internationally through an active research programme, and by contributing to new approaches to gender and diversity.
The Group commemorated the significant milestone with a successful research day that included reflection, looking ahead and imagining new futures for gender and diversity research.
A keynote from group founder Professor Judith Pringle looked at the evolution of gender and diversity research over the last 30 years, which has fed into the strong establishment of such research at AUT. The day included in-depth discussion from emerging scholars looking at the importance of Māori research and knowledge and its place in academia, the #MeToo movement, and the role of arts in gender and diversity research.
Turning to the future, the group envisioned an “ideal” world without gender and diversity inequality, and how to get there by continuing to build communities, develop new research methodologies, and telling the stories and experiences of women from a feminist perspective.
JOB SATISFACTION DIFFERENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN Research by Dr Rachel Morrison from the Business School has uncovered big differences in how men and women experience job satisfaction.
Rachel’s study found women who loved their jobs did so because they relished the feeling of being skilled at something, and using those skills and abilities to the fullest to produce successful outcomes.
When reflecting on a job they loved, men tended to talk about deriving pleasure from being stretched or tested in some way, and of overcoming seemingly insurmountable challenges.
“Organisations are often very ready to praise the adventurous risk-takers and go-getters who are willing to push themselves and their team to (and perhaps beyond) the limits of their ability,” Rachel said.
“We should be just as quick to recognise that a skilled worker who is keenly aware of her abilities and competence, and who takes on tasks they know they can excel in, is as, or more, valuable than someone who opens themselves to ruin by being willing to ‘give it a go’, perhaps refusing to admit to being out of their depth.”
RESEARCH
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AUT PROFILE 2018
INCOME HIT FOR MUMS A report by AUT and public policy think tank Motu revealed evidence of a gendered response to parenthood, with women experiencing a number of negative labour market outcomes upon becoming mothers.
Commissioned by the Ministry for Women, researchers analysed up to 15 years of employment and earnings data from parents who had their first child in 2005.
They found that becoming a mum is associated with a 4.4% decrease in hourly wages on average. Importantly, the longer women were off work, the larger the wage drop.
In contrast, men experienced no significant decrease in hourly wages upon becoming a parent, indicating that parenthood increases the gender gap in hourly wages.
“Employers can support women taking career breaks, especially those wanting to transition back to the workforce, if and when they choose to do that.
Employers can have a role, through human resource policies, keeping in touch while on leave, and ensuring they have flexible work hours available for all staff. They can ensure flexible hours are also available to fathers,” said Ministry for Women policy director Margaret Retter.
FINANCIAL FALLOUT FROM SPLIT HITS MUMS HARDEST In the first study of its kind in New Zealand, an AUT researcher found that the financial fallout of relationship failure hits women with children hard, with a 19% fall in their income after a break-up.
The financial consequences of close to 16,000 parents who separated during 2009 were analysed by Dr Michael Fletcher from the Business School. Using anonymised data, he followed the economic fortunes of pairs of ex-partners up to three years after separation.
The research found the collapse of a relationship led to large increases in poverty among the studied group.
Compared to a matched comparison group of similar people who did not separate, poverty rose 16.4% for the women and 8.8% for men. This impact lasted for the three years after separation.
Separation also had a significant impact on the average amount of benefit payments people received. The average amount of benefit support paid to the men post-breakup rose 44%, while the average for women increased 300%.
“A positive view of this is that the welfare system is serving a core welfare purpose of providing a safety net. The negative side is that it appears not to be preventing poverty, nor to be a short-term effect,” Michael said.
GENDER PAY GAP EXPERT RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Professor Gail Pacheco from the Department of Economics received the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research (NZIER) Economics Award in 2018.
From investigating the effects of the minimum wage as an honours student, through to her current role as Director of the New Zealand Work Research Institute at AUT, Gail’s research in areas that impact on economic policy has driven her for the majority of her career.
The NZIER Economics Award highlights outstanding contributions to the advancement of economics and its applications in New Zealand. To qualify,
a contribution must advance economic matters of direct relevance to New Zealand and likely to be of long-term lasting importance.
“Her work stands out for its diversity, quantity and quality,” said the awarding panel.
“This award makes me even more motivated to continue to strive to highlight the value of research with direct relevance to New Zealand,” said Gail.
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AUT PROFILE 2018
RESEARCH THEME
SOCIAL IMPACT & ISSUES
DR DAN TAUTOLO DIRECTOR OF THE PIFS STUDY
LISA SADARAKA SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM LECTURER
RESEARCH
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HARASSMENT IN COOK ISLANDS HOSPITALITY An AUT study investigating the prevalence of sexual harassment by customers against hospitality workers in the Cook Islands found that people are leaving the industry because of the harassment.
The study, by School of Hospitality and Tourism lecturer and Cook Islander Lisa Sadaraka, involved in-depth interviews with hospitality employees and employers to gain insight into their experiences and perceptions of sexual harassment. Both male and female participants were recruited to identify gender differences in attitudes and perceptions of sexual harassment.
Lisa’s study makes several recommendations on increasing awareness through training and implementing workplace policies and procedures and ‘work ready’ programmes in secondary schools and across the community.
“Sex is a taboo or forbidden subject in many of our Pacific communities. We need to break down the barriers and bring this issue to the fore, because it’s impacting our people and the sustainability of our industry,” Lisa said.
The findings have been presented to the Tourism Industry Global Update in Rarotonga and at the inaugural Critical Tourism Studies Asia-Pacific Conference in Indonesia.
NEW PSYCHOTHERAPY CLINIC DELIVERS VITAL SUPPORT In May, the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies launched a new psychotherapy clinic dedicated to improving the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and their families on the North Shore and greater Auckland area.
Building upon the success of AUT’s existing psychotherapy unit, the clinic is based at the North Campus and staffed by senior students under the supervision of experienced lecturers. This combination of expertise and child psychologists learning their trade allows the clinic to offer affordable therapy to children and families who may not otherwise be able to access help.
“The number of children and young people with psychological and emotional disturbance is growing, but this growth is not matched by the number of specialised
psychotherapists trained and experienced in this work,” explains Dianne Lummis, Programme Leader Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy at AUT’s School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies.
Benefitting the greater Auckland community and New Zealand, the clinic also serves as a learning environment for specialist trainee child psychotherapists who are much needed, but few and far between.
PACIFIC YOUTH AT RISK OF PROBLEM GAMBLING IF MOTHERS GAMBLE An AUT report, funded by the Ministry of Health, revealed that more than half of the 14-year-old Pacific youths interviewed had gambled at least once in their life and one-in-27 were problem gamblers.
The report, prepared by AUT’s Gambling and Addictions Research Centre, is part of the Pacific Islands Families Study based at the South Campus - a longitudinal study of Pacific children born at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital in 2000.
The study found that 52% of Pacific mothers who participated had gambled in the year prior to data collection. Overall, 29% had experienced a moderate level of harm and 0.7% were classified as problem gamblers.
Risk factors for gambling participation among mothers included alcohol consumption, being a victim or perpetrator of verbal aggression, and increased deprivation levels. Retaining a high level of alignment with Pacific culture, alongside a low level of alignment with New Zealand culture, was also associated with risky gambling behaviour.
“Mothers’ gambling behaviours influence those of their children, so adult education and public health campaigns are vital to stem the negative effects of gambling and its transfer across generations,” said Dr Maria Bellringer, lead author of the report and Associate Director of the Gambling and Addictions Research Centre.
PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS The New York Times featured groundbreaking work by an AUT researcher who has co-developed an algorithm to assist a child protection agency.
Allegheny County’s Family Screening Tool has been heralded as “one of the most exciting innovations in child protection in the last 20 years.”
The tool was created by Professor Rhema Vaithianathan, Co-Director of AUT’s Centre for Social Data Analytics and Emily Putnam-Hornstein from the University of Southern California. The pair were approached by Allegheny County in Pennsylvania following a series of tragedies in which children died after their family had been screened out. Together they explored how predictive analytics could help supplement the work of “call screeners” - the staff who field calls to help make more effective risk assessments.
Using data from all 76,964 allegations of maltreatment made between April 2010 and April 2014 in the county’s databases, Rhema and Emily built the algorithm. Scanning files and records of thousands of calls, the predictive analytics algorithm, identifies trends and presents an assessment to help the call screeners decide how to proceed with a case. The tool is drawing interest from child-protection agencies around the US.
AUT PROFILE 2018
DR RADILAITE CAMMOCK
RESEARCH
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TALKING MINDS A new website www.talkingminds.co.nz was launched to help support young people with psychosis navigate the complexities of the condition.
AUT’s Design for Health and Wellbeing Lab teamed up with the Auckland District Health Board and the NZ Early Intervention in Psychosis Society to create Talking Minds, the country’s first specific resource for youth with psychosis.
Co-designed by young people with psychosis and their whānau, the website aims to inform youth about psychosis so that they can recognise the signs early on and empower them to live their lives to the fullest.
About three in 100 of the general population seek help from services when experiencing distress associated with a psychotic episode. Many people first experience symptoms in their late teens or early twenties. Early intervention is key to supporting full recovery.
Mental health pharmacists can also use Talking Minds as a tool to help guide conversations and to help tailor the right support for individuals.
WHAT MĀORI MEN REALLY THINK ABOUT EXERCISE An AUT study highlighted that whilst Māori men are disproportionately affected by lifestyle-related illnesses associated with sedentary behaviour, relatively little is known about their thoughts and preferences towards exercise.
Dr Isaac Warbrick, an exercise physiologist in the School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies and Director of the Taupua Waiora Centre for Māori Health Research at AUT’s South Campus, conducted a qualitative study of sedentary Māori men aged 30-70 years with a body mass index over 25. He found current approaches to health promotion emphasise physical and mental wellbeing, but often lack cultural relevance.
“There’s a lot of gym talk and so-called motivational memes on social media about there being ‘no excuse not to exercise,’ but providing for your family and putting whānau first is more important for Māori men. We can’t expect them to engage in forms of exercise that take an hour or more out of their day when they barely get that time to spend with their family,” said Isaac.
“By blending high-intensity interval training with group-based and culturally-relevant approaches, Māori men can get physically active in far less time. And, they can do it in an appropriate environment that enhances more than just their physical health.”
WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PACIFIC WOMEN LIVING IN NEW ZEALAND An AUT study revealed that indigenous Fijian women living in New Zealand are not benefitting from the higher level of resources available. In fact, they are worse off in terms of their awareness and practice of family planning.
Dr Radilaite Cammock, Postgraduate Public Health Programme Leader at the South Campus has been studying the reproductive health of indigenous Fijian or iTaukei women for five years.
Comparing the family planning patterns of iTaukei women in different cultural and socioeconomic contexts across New Zealand and Fiji, more than 350 women participated in the study – 140 in New Zealand and 212 in Fiji.
Radilaite’s study revealed that iTaukei women in New Zealand have lower awareness of family planning methods compared to women living in Fiji. This is significant given the relative wealth of resources in New Zealand, and raises questions regarding the accessibility of family planning services among Pacific minority groups.
Barriers to access and cultural sensitivities, including a lack of female providers, are pronounced in New Zealand. Lower awareness may also be related to lower engagement with mainstream society, resulting in limited exposure to information on family planning. The ability to make sense of this information can be hindered by language barriers.
“We assume that Pacific peoples living in New Zealand would have improved outcomes, but the idea that moving to a country with greater resources will provide better access to healthcare is not true,” said Radilaite.
HYBRID COURT MODEL PROPOSED TO DELIVER JUSTICE TO VICTIMS Law School lecturer Cassandra Mudgway has offered a way forward for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by United Nations peacekeepers.
Whilst the United Nations introduced a zero-tolerance policy in 2003, reports of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by peacekeepers against those in need, persist.
Cassandra is producing a book based on her PhD research arguing for a series of hybrid courts for peacekeepers. She says a hybrid court model fills accountability gaps for crimes of international concern because it utilises mixed international and national staff, and expertise in law and order.
“The UN does not have the capacity to undertake criminal investigation or prosecution. The most it can do is send the perpetrator home, but with no enforcement process in place often allegations are not investigated, resulting in an accountability gap, and no justice for victims. A hybrid court model could turn this around,” said Cassandra.
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NOTABLE EVENTS & VISITORS
Our outreach and networking efforts have enabled AUT to host noteworthy visitors who engage our students on important issues, numerous international events and conferences, and an open day attended by thousands of prospective students.
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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE OLGA KISSELIVAInternationally-renowned artist and academic Olga Kisseliva took up a three-month residency at Colab as part of the Te Ataata programme.
An initiative by the Cultural Office of the French Embassy in New Zealand and AUT’s Colab, the Te Ataata programme was launched in 2015 to help build linkages, share knowledge and understanding between New Zealand and French creative technologies fields.
Olga is a Professor and Director of the Art and Sciences Department and the Art and Medium Program at Panthéon – Sorbonne University. Her work, which explores the links between creation processes and contemporary sciences and technologies, can be found in the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Getty Center in Los Angeles, among others.
During her residency, Olga collaborated with local researchers and practitioners to develop her current research project, EDEN. Addressing issues of Kauri dieback, EDEN attempted to connect Kauri trees to a digital network allowing them to communicate between themselves and humans.
AUT LIVEOn Saturday 25 August thousands of prospective students and their families descended on the City Campus to explore their undergraduate and postgraduate options at AUT LIVE 2018.
AUT LIVE is the University’s largest recruitment activity event of the year. With more than 3200 future students and their families on campus, 830 staff, student ambassadors and volunteers were on-hand to showcase all that AUT has to offer.
Those in attendance explored the campus, spoke to academics from each faculty about their study options for 2019 and beyond, enjoyed demonstrations, took part in activities and had a go at shooting hoops with the SKYCITY Breakers.
UAE MINISTER SPEAKS OUT ON CLIMATE CHANGE The United Arab Emirates Environment and Climate Change Minister His Excellency Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi visited AUT in August to discuss sustainability and climate change.
The Minister visited New Zealand directly after launching the Emirates Youth Climate Strategy 2018 – 2021, a significant initiative launched to coincide with the UN International Youth Day, observed every year on 12 August.
The strategy aims to develop youth leadership skills through a host of programmes and other activities in partnership with local and international stakeholders. Its three objectives are to raise awareness of climate change, build capacity to address the issue and promote participation in climate action.
Speaking to AUT students, staff and the public, the Minister was joined by the UAE Ambassador to New Zealand His Excellency Saleh Alsuwaidi for a discussion on how the UAE will achieve these objectives through a host of programmes and other activities by collaborating at home and internationally.
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RSGLOBAL SPORTS BIOMECHANICS CONFERENCEMore than 570 sports scientists, athletes, technology partners and teachers from 32 countries gathered at AUT in September for the 2018 conference of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS).
Co-hosted by AUT, High Performance Sport New Zealand, AUT Millennium, ATEED and the ISBS, the conference focussed on the use of technology to capture and analyse data on how we move to improve sports performance and prevent injuries.
Over five days, sports biomechanics researchers from around the world presented findings on a wide range of sports including boating, combat, rugby, football, swimming, baseball, tennis and athletics. As well as research and panel discussions on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and female biomechanics, a day at the world class sporting facility AUT Millennium demonstrated how theory is applied to practice in high performance sports and technology.
The decision to hold the conference in Auckland is confirmation of AUT’s position on the world stage of high performance sports research, sports science and technology. The University is ranked globally in the top 50 for sports science.
ALL TOGETHER BETTER HEALTH CONFERENCE TRANSFORMS HEALTHCARE LANDSCAPEIn September, the ninth All Together Better Health Conference took place at AUT - the first time the event has been hosted in New Zealand. The conference brought together more than 350 delegates from 25 countries.
With its overarching theme ‘Transforming the Landscape of Healthcare - Ohomairangi te Hauora Manaaki,’ there was a strong focus on Hauora Māori; sub themes explored and shared learning from Māori, Pacific and indigenous peoples from around the world. Other focus areas included: interprofessional practice and education, interprofessional leadership, the role of patients/clients within interprofessional healthcare teams, and the social, political, economic and cultural influences on interprofessional working.
The four-day conference provided delegates with opportunities to
come together to korero and share interprofessional practice, education and research innovation. Attendees also discussed the future strategic direction of New Zealand interprofessional education and practice, through meetings with and about the National Centre for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, the Australasian Interprofessional Practice and Education Network and the All Together Better Health World Coordinating Committee.
VIETNAM AND NEW ZEALAND GROW TERTIARY EDUCATION LINKS A new agreement was signed between AUT and Vietnam National University in February to strengthen ties between the two country’s tertiary education sectors.
His Excellency Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and AUT Vice-Chancellor Derek McCormack signed an advanced Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Vietnamese Government and AUT.
The MOU will enable the expansion of AUT’s delivery of programmes from pre-degree pathways to postgraduate studies, and in a wider range of academic disciplines including art and design. There will be a particular focus on building Vietnam’s human resource capabilities.
In 2018, 355 Vietnamese students were studying at AUT. Training has been delivered to 350 senior officials in Vietnam and at the University.
“Times Higher Education ranked AUT number 15 in the world for International Outlook and our relationship with Vietnam is another example of a partnership that benefits students, staff and researchers from both countries,” Derek said.
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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
DESIGNS WIN BIG AT THE BEST AWARDSStudents from the School of Art and Design received 48 nominations in the 2018 Best Awards – half of them were winners and five taking out the night’s top awards.
Communication Design students Nathan Walker and Luke Guildford won two of the top awards in the Graphics and Interactive categories. Judges described their typography win as “an interesting exploration with a lot of thought and experimentation that led to a great piece of work”. For their interactive entry the panel described their work as “a playful and educational website about the forefront of digital typography”.
Madison Ford, who also studies Communication Design, won the top prize for the Graphics category. Judges said her entry was “thought provoking, simple, interesting and every spread makes you want to read more and more”.
Digital Design student Ying Liao’s short film Jingle Bells took out the top award in the Moving Image category. Judges described Ying’s work as “a touching animated short
film with a great sense of cinematography and editorial timing”.
Spatial Design student Lauren Gibbs also took out the top award in the Spatial category.
MEMBERS INDUCTED TO INTERNATIONAL HONOURS SOCIETY
In 2018 the AUT Business School inducted 95 new members into the Beta Gamma Sigma Society.
Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) is a prestigious international honours society that recognises the academic achievements and excellence of top business students around the world. Only business schools accredited by AACSB International are invited to establish a BGS Chapter.
The AUT Business School gained AACSB accreditation in 2011 and launched a BGS NZ chapter in 2012. Currently, only students gaining business qualifications from AUT and The University of Auckland can become BGS members.
BGS has more than 590 chapters in over 190 countries, making it the world’s largest network of business alumni. In New Zealand, approximately 1000 graduates are members of the BGS chapter.
Helping our students become great graduates is our ultimate mission. Many of them excel during their time at AUT, contributing to their fields of study, their communities and having impact in New Zealand and around the world.
SOUTH CAMPUS LAW STUDENT GETS BORRIN FOUNDATION SUPPORT Fourth year Law student Te Puea Matoe received a research scholarship from the newly launched Borrin Foundation to investigate how cultural information at sentencing can help improve outcomes for Māori in New Zealand’s criminal justice system.
The Borrin Foundation’s Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Summer Legal Research
Internship aims to promote Māori legal scholarship and nurture young researchers.
Current provisions for cultural reporting are widely underutilised and Te Puea believes they could be a tool to support Māori in the justice system.
DESIGN STUDENTS WIN SEED FUNDING FOR CLEVER LITTLE MONTHLY Design students Shara Quin and Mia Evans took out the top prize at the 2018 AUT X Challenge for Clever Little Monthly - ethical and sustainable tampons made from hemp.
In front of a live audience and four fearsome “dragons”, 12 finalists had just five minutes to pitch their idea and be in the running to take home a share of a $40,000 cash prize pool, together with an additional $15,000 of services from competition sponsors Lowndes Jordan and Xero.
The “dragons” - Chenoa Farnsworth, a venture accelerator, angel investment group manager, venture fund partner and start-up advisor, James Robinson, co-founder of My Food Bag, Kirsten Taylor, founder and Managing Director of SleepDrops International and leading medical innovator Dr Lance O’Sullivan - were impressed by the pitch.
X Challenge is AUT’s University-wide competition that gives every student the opportunity to develop an idea for a business, cause or project and participate in a fun entrepreneurial experience.
THIRD PLACE IN BERLIN FOR FALLING WALLS NEW ZEALAND LAB WINNER PhD Engineering student Ankita Poudyal, winner of the 2018 Falling Walls Lab New Zealand, won third place in the international finale event held in Berlin in November with her presentation ‘Breaking the Walls of Inefficient Filters’.
Ankita’s presentation centred on her work with nano-fibre filters that efficiently remove particles and enable good air flow
with the help of Kode, a surface coating technology for medical treatments.
She was up against 100 participants selected in 77 Falling Walls Labs, held in 57 countries. As one of the top three, Ankita presented her research to more than 700 attendees from science, academia and governments.
Originally from Nepal, Ankita was selected at the New Zealand Falling Walls Lab held by the Royal Society Te Apārangi. She was one of 19 early career researchers competing from New Zealand and the Pacific.
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MAJOR RADIO AWARD AUT Radio student Brad Hemmingway won the inaugural Johnny Douglas Award for Outstanding New Talent in a Broadcasting Course at the 2018 NZ Radio Awards.
Created to recognise outstanding new talent in a broadcasting course, Brad is the first student awardee and received $1000 in prize money.
Nominations came from all over the county, but the three finalists, Brad, Melanie Dooley and Alexander Goldsmith, all hailed from AUT.
The Johnny Douglas Award was created by former colleagues of the broadcaster who died in 2017, to recognise his contribution as a visionary who found and fostered on-air and programming talent.
MICROSOFT TAKES JACKIE ACROSS THE GLOBE
Bachelor of Health Science student and Vice-Chancellor’s Significant Student Scholarship recipient Jackie Chan has travelled across the globe as a Microsoft Student Partner (MSP).
Jackie’s MSP journey began straight out of high school with an interview after she was a finalist in a game development competition in her last year. The role has taken her to Seattle to attend the Microsoft Build Developers Conference in May, and to Taiwan for the Asia Pacific MSP Summit in June.
Fitting in work alongside her studies, Jackie and her team run the Microsoft Student Accelerator Programme, which provides students the opportunity to learn and develop skills in New Zealand’s fast-paced IT industry.
The youngest in the MSP team, Jackie was one of 48 picked from 2500 people from around the world, and the only MSP from New Zealand to attend the all-expenses paid trip to the conference in Seattle. PRIME MINISTER RECOGNISES PACIFIC STUDENTS
Two AUT students were named winners of the 2018 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards.
These prestigious awards recognise excellence and outstanding achievement by Pacific youth aged between 17 and 24 in commerce, the arts, sports, community and leadership.
Hazel Umaga and Taylor McDonald are among the nine people who were presented with an award by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at a ceremony held in May at the Fale o Samoa in Mangere.
Each award recognises contributions to society, excellence in academic work, or demonstrating a skill in business.
Final year Business student Hazel Umaga won the BNZ Commercial and Corporate Award and is interested in pursuing a finance and business career.
Taylor McDonald is studying a double degree in Business and Design and received the Deloitte Business and Entrepreneurship Award.
OLAF ONE OF 30 TOP YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Computer Science and Business student and Vice-Chancellor’s Significant Student Scholarship recipient Olaf Wrieden travelled to Melbourne in July as one of 30 top student entrepreneurs chosen from around the world to attend the Asia-Pacific Student Entrepreneurship Society Summit.
During his second year at AUT Olaf was a business mentor for students in the Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) for high school students, where his own first successful enterprises were developed and recognised.
As well as his YES work, Olaf developed a Mac app that enables schools and organisations to conduct smarter bring-your-own-device setups, saving time and automating the process.
WORLD FIRST FOR DECISION-MAKING AI In a world first, AUT researchers developed an artificial intelligence model that can predict a person’s choices before they have even made up their mind.
The team from AUT’s Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute includes AUT PhD students and sisters Zohreh and Maryam Doborjeh, their supervisor Professor Nikola Kasabov and Professor Alex Sumich from Nottingham Trent University.
The work is based on a new type of artificial intelligence research called spiking neural networks, used to develop NeuCube, a machine learning system modelled on how the human brain learns and recognises patterns.
In experiments, the sisters had 20 participants watch a video of different beverage logos and recorded their brain data using an EEG headset. That data was synced to the NeuCube algorithm, which learned and classified patterns from the participants’ brains. It was able to predict their beverage choice 0.2 seconds before they consciously perceived the beverage. It also showed a clear difference between logos that were familiar to participants and those that weren’t.
The groundbreaking work could have a number of uses, including neuromarketing, cognitive studies and crime solving. One potential application would be the ability to determine an offender in a police line-up if a victim has blocked out the traumatic experience.
PACIFIC EDUCATION RESEARCH RECOGNISED Doctor of Education candidate Jacoba Matapo was awarded the 2018 Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA) Doctoral Scholarship for her research exploring Pasifika leadership in higher education.
Jacoba’s research looks at cultural knowledge and change in the context of Pasifika leadership, something she sees as an integral part of her professional practice and personal ethos.
PESA provides up to two $AU10,000 scholarships each year to encourage doctoral students to engage with philosophical issues in education.
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FUTURE DESIGN AND FASHION TALENT ON SHOW The annual AUT Rookie graduate fashion show is one of the most prestigious fashion events on the Auckland events calendar.
Featuring collections by a selection of AUT’s top final year students, it’s more than just a graduate fashion show – Rookie is a showcase of the future leaders of the New Zealand fashion industry.
Design students from disciplines including visual arts, fashion, textile, digital, industrial, spatial and communication design also showcased their creative talents at the annual Art & Design Festival (AD18) in November.
WOOL FIBRE SCHOLARSHIP KNITTED UPA scholarship sponsored by a prominent wool producer has enabled an AUT Textile Design student to pursue her idea for stylish sound-proofing.
Third year student Taylor Mau received a $5000 scholarship sponsored by Wairarapa wool producer Palliser Ridge.
In a partnership with AUT’s Textile Design Lab, Palliser Ridge was on the hunt for innovative ideas on how to use strong wool – the wool fibre traditionally used in carpets, rugs and upholstery and considered too thick for clothing.
Taylor’s winning idea is a composite fabric for room-dividing screens in residential and commercial spaces. The screens can segment a large space, and the strong wool-based fabric will muffle sound.
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JAPANESE LECTURER RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARDDallas Nesbitt, Senior Lecturer in Japanese Studies from the School of Language and Culture, was awarded the 2018 Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation at the Consul General’s residence in September.
Instrumental in setting up the Japanese language course at AUT, Dallas has spent many years training and nurturing students.
Her contribution to the promotion of Japanese culture and language, and the education and nurturing of teachers of Japanese through the establishment of a
national organisation of tertiary Japanese language teachers, was acknowledged at the ceremony.
Consul General of Japan in Auckland Minoru Kikuchi praised Dallas’ achievements and presented her with the award.
Upon receiving the award, Dallas expressed her deepest thanks and determination to further mutual understanding between Japan and New Zealand through Japanese language education and culture.
Our approach to teaching is creative, interactive and uses contemporary resources and approaches. Our aim is to encourage students to become inquiring and agile thinkers, collaborators and problem solvers.
STAFF SCOOP TOP NZ SIGN LANGUAGE AWARDS Susie Ovens and Lynette Pivac, both New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) lecturers at the School of Language and Culture, were recognised for their impressive achievements at the NZ Sign Language Awards.
Recognising the hard-working heroes of NZSL, the awards celebrate individuals, businesses and organisations committed to the promotion and progress of NZSL and Deaf culture in New Zealand.
Lecturer and researcher Lynette Pivac was presented with one of two Supreme Long-standing Service Awards for more than 20 years of tireless work in the Deaf community and Deaf education.
“I feel very positive about the future of
NZSL” Lynette said. “It’s such a beautiful language and amazing culture, and we have terrific NZSL teachers, right here at AUT.”
Lecturer Susie Ovens received the NZSL Teaching Award – an accolade that speaks to her dedication and hard work towards bridging the gap between Deaf and hearing people during her 15 years at AUT.
“When you learn NZSL you learn to communicate with your hands and your eyes, in a language that has a really
different grammatical structure to English. Learning it will help you understand why Deaf people who use NZSL and embrace Deaf culture don’t see it as a disability,” Susie said.
AUT offers papers in NZSL and Deaf culture as an elective for existing students, or as an introduction for those interested in Deaf culture and sign language.
PROFESSOR RECOGNISED WITH HIND RATTAN AWARD School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences Professor Krishnamachar Prasad received the prestigious Hind Rattan Award at a ceremony in Bangkok.
The Award, named after a Hindi phrase that translates to “Jewel of India”, is one of India’s highest honours, and is presented annually to non-resident persons of Indian origin (NRIs) by the NRI Welfare Society of India.
The award recognised Krishnamachar’s work on the development and reliability of novel interconnects in conventional and three-dimensional integrated circuits.
Krishnamachar is currently researching the development of solid state sensors for odour, colour and chemical profiling. His work could potentially determine whether, scientifically, wine has aged adequately for bottling, fish is fresh or drinking water is safe for consumption.
His ultimate aim is to develop a low-cost, mobile miniature sensor device that consumers can use in everyday situations, such as making sure food that is cooked in oil has not gone off, or food is free of MSG or other harmful additives.
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In November, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject placed AUT 92 in the world and first in New Zealand for its clinical, pre-clinical and health subjects.
In September, AUT significantly improved in the THE World University Rankings and is now the third highest ranked university in New Zealand.
In September, the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities ranked AUT’s School of Sport and Recreation 46 in the world in their Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
In March, the eighth edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject included two of AUT’s subjects which featured in the global top 50 for the first time.
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EMPLOYABILITY & CO-OPS
INTRODUCING HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYERS TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTSStrong interest in AUT students brings hundreds of employers onto campus every year. The University’s Employability Team delivers an extensive range of events including career fairs, employer presentations, panels and leadership speakers.
The success of these events has been acknowledged internationally with AUT gaining a 5-star QS rating for Employability. Many AUT students have jobs organised before graduation - and employers line up to attend the University’s career fairs focussed on Business and Economics, ICT
and Engineering, Law, Culture and Society, and Hospitality, Tourism, Events and Culinary Arts, citing a huge need for skilled employees.
Employability Matters, a week-long festival of events designed to support
students, was held in April. With an array of industry panels and leadership speakers, students build up industry knowledge and networking prowess. A suite of workshops were offered including CVs, networking, interview practice and LinkedIn profiles.
A combination of teaching excellence and more than 90% of our students undertaking a work placement or internship results in 95% of domestic and 89% of international graduates being employed within nine months of leaving AUT.
In 2018, the AUT Edge Awards celebrated the achievements of its participants with ceremonies for 32 graduates in July and a further 58 in December. This was the largest group to graduate over the two years since the award’s inception.
Alongside good academic grades, today’s employers are seeking graduates with the ‘C’ skills – collaboration, a sense of community, curiosity, communication and creativity. The AUT Edge Award encourages and acknowledges students who develop in these areas.
2018 was the first time AUT industry partners sponsored prizes, indicating the value employers place on these skills. The AUT Edge Overall Achievement Award was one of five prizes offered - the other four prizes acknowledged students who had gone beyond expectation in volunteering, leadership, personal growth and social impact.
The industry sponsors were Auckland Council, YUDU, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, SEEK Volunteer and InterContinental Hotels Group.
LEADING THE NEXT GENERATIONNow in its sixth year, Shadow a Leader matches a year 13 student and an AUT business or law student, with a business leader.
Shadow a Leader gives Auckland secondary school students and AUT Faculty of Business, Economics and Law students the opportunity to follow a business leader for a day to understand what it takes to succeed in the leader’s field of endeavour.
In July, 186 students from 40 schools across Auckland and AUT were exposed to the day-to-day workings of leadership in action.
Students were selected based on their leadership capabilities, potential and overall achievement.
Shadow a Leader provides a unique opportunity for young, aspiring leaders to gain insights from the current generation of business leaders – and vice versa.
INDUSTRY PRIZES TAKE AUT EDGE AWARD TO NEW LEVELS
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AUT GRADUATES HANDPICKED BY MAJOR GLOBAL COMPANIESFacebook, Westpac, Lululemon and Allbirds were among the global companies who selected 28 graduates to be interns in their overseas offices in 2018.
The Internz Scholarship programme provides opportunities for final year students to embark on paid internships in the US and Canada. With support from AUT for flights, insurance, visas and a living stipend, this group of graduates gets a chance to put learning into action in a different market.
Kate Nalesu, who graduated with a Master of Design in Spatial Design, began her internship with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in February, working with the curator on current collections and upcoming exhibitions. She succeeded after her second application to the programme.
“I am proud of myself because I proved that failure is not a step back, it is a learning curve that pushes you to succeed even higher than your own expectations. Despite these setbacks, I was still brave enough to believe that I could achieve this,” Kate said.CONNECTING GREAT
GRADUATES WITH WORLD CLASS EMPLOYERSInternz, the initiative to connect great graduates with world class employers, scaled up in 2018 to become a full-service recruitment offering for New Zealand employers - the first of its type and unique to New Zealand universities.
The online platform sends alerts to AUT students who register with Internz about appropriate internships and graduate roles as soon as they are advertised. A team also operates at the University’s Employability Lab for employers to register paid internships and graduate roles for AUT students.
Research shows 95% of domestic and 89% of international graduates who are available to work find jobs within nine months of leaving AUT.
GLOBAL FOOTWEAR BRAND ALLBIRDS HOSTED INTERN APRIL GOUDIE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
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INTERNATIONAL
AUT is ranked first in Australia and New Zealand for International Outlook (and 25th in the world) in the Times Higher Education Rankings. This recognises the University’s extensive engagement with industry, government, universities and research partners around the world.
AUT aims to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to embark on an international experience as part of their study, acknowledging the need for our graduates to leave with international perspectives and insights into an increasingly global world.
AUT alumni are achieving success throughout the world and we continue to grow an increasingly influential network.
Some key Memorandums of Understanding, aimed at promoting learning and research collaboration, were signed in 2018 with:
• Aalto University School of Economics
• Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications
• BINUS University
• Cardiff University
• China Jiliang University
• The Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture – Directorate General of Higher Education
• Foreign Trade University, Vietnam
• Gengdan Institute of Beijing University of Technology
• German Sports University of Cologne
• Government of South Sulawesi Province
• Government of North Sumatera Province
• Guangdong University of Technology
• Hanoi University
• Hika World Ltd
• Kanazawa University
• Mackenzie Presbyterian University
• Namseoul University of Cheonan
• Nanchung University
• National Dong Hwa University
• Osaka Perfecture University
• Rajamangala University of Technology
• Shandong University
• Shenzhen University
• Suan Dusit Rajabhat University
• The China Scholarship Council
• University of International Business and Economics
• University of Sydney
• Wuhan University
AUT is #25 in the world and first in Australasia for International Outlook, as measured by global university rankings, Times Higher Education.
WHĀNAU IN THE USAThe North American Whānau Council - East Coast (a gathering of AUT students and alumni based in the eastern United States) met in Vermont in October for a Noho Marae weekend.
The Council is made up of students who spent a semester studying at AUT as part of their studies. Two University of Vermont students, Jessica Cohen and Kathryn Maitland, established the group after learning about the European Whānau Council.
Over the course of America’s Labour Weekend, the Council reconnected with each other and immersed themselves in Māori culture.
The North American Whānau Council - East Coast, is one of three whānau councils worldwide; the others are on the USA’s West Coast and in Europe.
CONNECTING WITH CHINESE ALUMNIGreat graduates travelled from across China in October to attend AUT’s annual alumni event hosted at the New Zealand Ambassador to China’s residence in Beijing.
More than 10,000 Chinese students have graduated from AUT, and China is AUT’s largest international market thanks in part to partnerships forged by AUT’s International Relations and Development Office.
While most Chinese graduates have returned home, they haven’t lost their passion for AUT. Many flew the equivalent distance of Auckland to Melbourne to attend the event.
AUT was the pioneering first tertiary institution in New Zealand to engage with China in 1989. The University’s relationship with China continues to grow through a recent partnership with the China Scholarships Council and formal agreements with several universities.
CELEBRATING A DECADE-LONG PARTNERSHIP WITH A TOP VIETNAM UNIVERSITYMore than 150 people attended an AUT event in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City in October to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of AUT’s relationship with Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City - one of the country’s two largest universities.
AUT’s educational relationship with Vietnam has existed for over 26 years, and was strengthened further when the two universities signed a ‘New Zealand/Vietnam Strategic Engagement Plan on Education’ in 2015.
The event featured a number of notable guests including New Zealand’s Ambassador to Vietnam Her Excellency Wendy Matthews, colleagues from Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, and industry representatives.
The event included a celebration of some of AUT’s great graduates from two of Vietnam’s major cities, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.
AUT’s Vietnamese alumni already have a strong presence and influence in their country; this will only continue to grow and represents a considerable opportunity for the University.
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SUSTAINABILITY AUT is committed to advancing knowledge and understanding of the issues and opportunities around creating a sustainable future for people and the planet and implementing solutions to address this challenge.
A BLUEPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTUREThe Minister for Climate Change James Shaw joined staff and students at an event at the City Campus to officially launch AUT’s Sustainability Roadmap.
Developed by the Vice-Chancellor’s Taskforce for Sustainability, the Roadmap is a blueprint to ensure that AUT achieves a more sustainable future. It outlines the University’s sustainability objectives, priority actions and targets across learning, research, governance and facilities to 2025.
With input from staff and students, the Roadmap demonstrates AUT’s contribution towards the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each goal addresses global challenges including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice.
Some key indicators of positive change
include: increasing numbers of students to have access to majors, minors or papers with a sustainability orientation, moving towards zero waste, and increasing the number of peer reviewed research outputs that contribute to the SDGs. AUT will report annually on progress in all areas of the Sustainability Roadmap.
NGĀ WAI HONO WINS BUILDING SUSTAINABILITY AWARDAUT’s newest building, Ngā Wai Hono (also known as WZ), won a major sustainability award for the innovative use of concrete to reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint.
Allied Concrete, the concrete supplier for WZ, won the Excellence in Commercial Concrete Construction Award at the 2018 Concrete Sustainability Awards for the building’s precast light concrete facade. In their citation, the judging panel commended the novel approach to concrete cladding construction.
The concrete mix used in the external panels is made from recycled glass and is around 35% lighter than standard concrete - meaning that WZ’s facade not only increases energy efficiency but is made from glass waste that is difficult to dispose of.
WZ was built with sustainability in mind. While most commercial buildings of a similar size use around 200 kilowatt hours of energy per square metre, WZ’s facade, designed by Jasmax Architects and constructed in collaboration with BECA, Fletcher Construction and Concretec NZ, uses around half of that.
NZ’S FIRST ELECTRIC BUSNew Zealand’s first fully battery powered electric bus hit the road in March, thanks to a joint initiative by AUT, Tranzit Group and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
Through the Government’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, which encourages innovation and investment in low emission vehicles, the 35-seater bus is part of AUT’s fleet and services the University’s North-City Campus and South-City Campus bus routes.
Providing sustainable transport for hundreds of students every day, it’s an important step in the evolution of bus transport in New Zealand. There are more than 9500 large diesel buses in New Zealand. In order to replace these with a greener fleet, the performance and viability of electric buses needs to be demonstrated.
The $738k project to build the bus was made possible by funding from EECA and Tranzit Group.
The vehicle will operate as a mobile research tool providing vital data to understand the economics and performance of electric buses on New Zealand roads.
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AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Acknowledging AUT’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, the inaugural Vice-Chancellor Diversity Awards in August acknowledged the initiatives of eight awardees who are working to make AUT more accessible, welcoming and engaging for our various communities.
Lexie Matheson, ONZM - Senior Lecturer - Faculty of Culture and Society
Dr Mahsa Mohaghegh - Lecturer – Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies
Professor Candice Harris - Head of Department – Management – Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
Robert Hogg - Senior Lecturer - Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences
Jo-Anne Lewis - Community Relations Manager - Strategy and Stakeholder Relations
Shahla Damoory - Centre Leader - Corporate Development and Support
Brett McCready - ICT Core Platforms - Manager Finance and Infrastructure
Isabella Rasch - Pacific Student Support Advisor - Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor Groups
TOP ACCOLADE AWARDED TO MAX ABBOTTA pioneer in mental and public health research and advocacy, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Professor Max Abbott was announced as this year’s recipient of AUT’s University Medal.
The Medal is AUT’s pre-eminent academic award. Introduced in 2013, it is presented to a member of the AUT community in recognition of sustained and outstanding contributions that reflect and enhance the academic development and reputation of the University.
During his 27 years at AUT, Max has led transformations across his faculty, and the University as a whole, including substantial growth in staff and student numbers, and the expansion of research and postgraduate programmes.
Under his leadership, the Faculty has become the country’s largest and most diverse health science education provider, the leading sport science provider, and a significant provider of biological and environmental science education. It has over 7000 students, five dedicated schools and five research institutes.
MNZO HONOUR FOR CAMILLE NAKHIDAssociate Professor Camille Nakhid from the School of Social Sciences was recognised for services to ethnic communities and education in the New Year’s Honours List, becoming a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
A prominent community leader and researcher on issues relating to ethnic communities, migrant identity and ethnicity within a social context, Camille has undertaken extensive research into a range of areas, including Māori and Pasifika educational achievement, family and community among Pasifika youth, factors impacting on migrant resettlement, and culturally relevant research methodologies.
Camille was the inaugural Chairperson of the Auckland Council’s Ethnic People’s Advisory Panel and has held a number of voluntary roles in various community and public sector boards, including as a founding and Executive Committee member of the Waitakere Ethnic Board from 2003 to 2013 and a member of the Henderson Community Board. She is Chairperson of AUT’s Pacific Media Centre Advisory Board and Chairperson of the Migrant Action Trust.
AUT EXCELLENCE AWARDS WINNERS
Hundreds of staff gathered at the AUT Excellence Awards in October to join in the celebrations and learn about the exceptional work that takes place at AUT every day.
Established in 2012, the annual awards celebrate the University’s outstanding teaching, research and professional staff.
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Research Excellence
Research TeamCentre for Person Centred Research Led by Dr Nicola Kayes; David Anstiss, Dr Duncan Babbage, Dr Felicity Bright, Guy Collier, Christine Cummins, Dr Joanna Fadyl, Dr Suzie Mudge, Dr Deborah Payne, Sandy Rutherford, Kelly Scott, Ann Sezier, Professor Richard Siegert, Greta Smith, Gareth Terry, Bobbie-Jo Wilson, Dr Jill Wrapson
Research Team – Highly CommendedTe Ipukarea, the National Māori Language InstituteLed by Dr Tania Ka’ai; Dr Rachael Ka’ai-Mahuta, Timoti Kāretu, Dr Dean Mahuta, Professor Wharehuia Milroy, Professor John Moorfield, Tania Smith
Emerging ResearcherDr Nadia Charania, School of Public Health and Psychosocial Studies
Postgraduate Research SupervisionProfessor Chris Braddock, School of Art and Design
Research ImpactAssociate Professor Sharyn Graham Davies, School of Social Sciences and Public Policy
Individual Research ExcellenceProfessor Andrea C. Alfaro, School of Science
Professor Rhema Vaithianathan, School of Economics
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence
Teaching TeamCertificate in Science and Technology Led by Kerri Spooner; Dr Jordan Alexander, Dr Renu Choudhary, Jeff Nijsse, Heather Ricketts, Craig Sole, Dr Catherine Sweatman, Shaun WasonCo-operative Education Teaching Team Led by Jenni Boys; Kate Coleman, Helene Wilkinson
Teaching InnovationNurs501 Project Team Led by Sally Britnell; Michael Neufeld, Paul Ripley
Curriculum DevelopmentSarah-Kate Millar, School of Sport and Recreation
Individual Teaching ExcellenceDr Anil Narayan, Business School
Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Professional Excellence
Professional TeamEnergy Conservation Team Led by Warren Smith; Avikash Chandra, Raymond Koole, Lindsey du PreezMāori Liaison Services Team Led by Hariata Mareroa; Trent Dallas, Kelly-Aroha Hatta, Margaret Mehana, Wiremu Tipuna
Professional InnovationInternz Team Co-led by Ella Monahan and Anna Williams
Professional Leadership Megan Skinner, Strategy and Planning
Individual Professional Excellence Joyce D’Mello, School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences
Special Commendation for Excellence For Outstanding Strategic ContributionJenny Bygrave, Assistant Vice-Chancellor Strategy, Students and Marketing, Head of Strategy and Planning
University MedalProfessor Max Abbott, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences
VICE-CHANCELLOR DIVERSITY AWARDS WINNERS
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APPOINTMENTS
AUT academics and professional staff are recognised internally, around New Zealand, and beyond for their contributions to learning and teaching, and to government, society and business.
DEAN OF CULTURE AND SOCIETYProfessor Pare Keiha was appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Culture and Society and Te Ara Poutama. He continued as Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori Advancement Tumuaki, Te Ara Poutama. Pare is a long standing member of the Strategic Leadership Team at AUT as a Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor, and has extensive experience in the management and leadership of academic matters at both local and national levels.
PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR RESEARCH, ENTERPRISE AND INTERNATIONALProfessor Nigel Hemmington became the full time Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Enterprise and International. Nigel has been a Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor at AUT for 10 years and was previously Professor at two English universities where he held senior academic and research leadership roles.
NEW COUNCIL MEMBERSAs the University’s governing body, the Council establishes committees and delegates authority to committees or officers of the University. Established by the Education Act 1989, the Council is made up of elected staff and student representatives, and people appointed by the Minister or co-opted by the Council from outside the University.
AUT welcomed two new Council members in 2018:
Janine Smith MNZM, BCom, MPhil (Hons 1st class) – Principal of The Boardroom Practice LimitedJanine has been a company director for more than 20 years. She is a founding Principal of The Boardroom Practice Limited which specialises in boardroom practice and organisational development and change issues for boards and management. Janine has held a number of non-executive independent board positions as director and chair in public listed companies, state owned enterprises, private companies and with companies in the arts and education sectors. She has also held executive director positions with Telecom Directories and Arnott’s NZ where she was the GM/CEO.
Dharyin Colbert - AUTSA President Dharyin is in his third year studying a Bachelor of Computer and Information Science, double majoring in Networks and Security and Software Development. This year is his second with the Auckland University of Technology Student Association.
Dharyin has held a variety of portfolios within AUTSA including Māori Affairs Officer on the Student Representative Council, AUTSA Representative on the Academic Integrity Board for the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, and Student Representative on AUTSA’s Governance Board of Directors.
Existing council members:
• Chancellor - John Maasland MA (Cantab), FIOD (Co-opted by Council)
• Pro-Chancellor - Sussan Turner (Appointed by the Minister for Tertiary Education)
• Secretary to Council - Dr Andrea Vujnovich PhD, MSc (Hons), LLB (Hons) (Assistant Vice-Chancellor Corporate and General Counsel)
• Dr Pat Alley MBChB, FRACS, Dip.Prof.Ethics. (Co-opted by Council)
• Dr Helen Gaeta Phd, MSc, BSc (Elected by the Academic Staff of AUT)
• Sophie Hayman PgDipArts, PGCE, BA (Hons) (Elected by the Professional Staff of AUT)
• Lyn Lim LLB (Hons) (Appointed by the Minister of Education)
• Geraint Martin BA (Hons), MSc, MinstD, CHSM (Supernumerary Member of Council)
• Derek McCormack MSc, DipTchg (Vice-Chancellor of AUT)
• James Schofield BCom, MSc (Econ) London, FCA (Co-opted by Council)
• Stephen Stehlin BA (Co-opted by Council)
• Judith Thompson BSocSc, MMgt (Appointed by the Minister of Education)
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NEW HEAD OF SCHOOLProfessor Erica Hinckson became the new Head of School – Sport and Recreation in March.
Sport and recreation has always played a big part in Erica’s life. Following a successful athletics career in the United States, she entered academia, initially qualifying and researching in the field of sport science. Erica later turned her focus to physical activity and the built environment.
As a member of The Global Observatory of Physical Activity, Erica is an advocate for change in the international arena and the New Zealand lead for the initiative which examines physical activity surveillance, research and policy worldwide.
PROFESSOR EMERITUSTagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop was awarded the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of her contributions to teaching, researching and publishing on Pacific development issues.
Peggy’s career as a specialist researcher in Pacific development issues has been long and distinguished. In a career spanning more than 30 years, she has researched a range of Pacific development issues — from national sustainable development through to gender and youth equity. Her teaching experience ranges from early childhood education through primary to tertiary level in the Pacific and in New Zealand.
The honorary title of Professor Emeritus may be bestowed on senior staff who have retired from AUT and who have given long and distinguished leadership to the University through teaching or research.
Kathryn McPherson (School of Health and Environmental Sciences) Chair of the Health Research Council of New Zealand
Alexander Richter (School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences) Associate Professor at IT University of Copenhagen
Kunhong Kim (School of Economics) Professor at Hallyam University, South Korea
Vi Hu Quan, (School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences) Vice-President of Vietnam National University
Ben Boedeaker (School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences) CEO of Kode Biotech USA
Professor Lesley Ferkins (School of Sport and Recreation) specialises in the field of sport management.
Professor Stephen Neville (School of Clinical Sciences) specialises in gerontology, sexual minority groups and health workforce issues.
Professor Valerie Wright-St Clair (School of Clinical Sciences), specialises in social gerontology from an occupational science perspective.
Professor Matthew Ryan (School of Economics) specialises in the field of microeconomic theory.
Professor Frances Joseph (Colab) specialises in the field of design, including innovation through design and new technologies.
Professor Andrew Kilding (School of Sport and Recreation) specialises in sport and exercise physiology.
Professor Hinematau McNeill (Te Ara Poutama) specialises in the field of Māori development.
HONORARY DOCTORATES
Honorary Doctorates are conferred on people who have made an outstanding contribution to society. In 2018, AUT
awarded honorary doctorates to two people:
Anne Zahra, (School of Hospitality and Tourism) Managing Director of Kenvale College in Sydney
Bridget Dicker (School of Clinical Sciences) Head of Audit and Research at St John New Zealand
Ana Maria Munar (Culture and Society) Associate Professor at Copenhagen Business School
Leo-Paul Dana (Te Ara Poutama) Professor at Montpellier Business School
NEW ADJUNCT PROFESSORS
Sir James Wallace was appointed Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The knighthood officially recognised his long record of supporting the arts and his generous philanthropy.
The primary industry entrepreneur began collecting art in the mid-1960s and established the Wallace Arts Trust that holds more than 8000 works as a cultural resource for present and future generations.
For several years, access has been given to the Trust’s collection through loans to some 50 institutions. AUT has 325 works on display across its three campuses.
Richard Harris is an influential leader in the architectural profession both within New Zealand and overseas. As former Chairman and Managing Director of Jasmax, Richard has had a transformational role in architecture in New Zealand. In 2017, Richard was recognised for this contribution by being named one of only four Distinguished Fellows by the New Zealand Institute of Architects.
More than 20 years involvement with the physical development of AIT and AUT has made Richard’s mark on the built environment at the University, and helped attract staff and students to new facilities that are both world class and award winning.
Richard has led or significantly influenced numerous buildings and projects at AUT including the City Campus Ngā Wai Hono Building (2018), Sir Paul Reeves Building (2013), AUT Business School (2005), South Campus Mana Hauora Building (2017), and the North Campus Learning Centre (2005).
Adjunct Professors are those who hold professorial positions elsewhere, or a position of equivalent standing in the professions, and who are currently sharing their expertise with the University in research or teaching.
AUT has 211 professors and associate professors. The following staff were appointed professors in 2018.
NEW AUT PROFESSORS
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KEY EXTERNAL APPOINTMENTS
EDUCATION MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUPDr Welby Ings, from the School of Art and Design, was appointed to an eight-person ministerial advisory group. The group will provide coherence for the feedback being submitted as part of a national conversation on the education system. The group was appointed by Education Minister Chris Hipkins and is led by Children’s Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft.
CHAIR OF WDHBProfessor Judy McGregor, from the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy, was appointed by the Ministry of Health as Chair of the Waitemata District Health Board, New Zealand’s largest district health board by population.
NCEA MINISTERIAL ADVISORY GROUPBachelor of Communication Studies student Arizona Leger was appointed to a group of innovative thinkers from across the education sector on a Ministerial Advisory Group tasked with reviewing the NCEA.
TRUSTEE – RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY CENTREProfessor Edwina Pio, who works and researches in the area of religious diversity at work, was appointed a trustee of the Religious Diversity Centre. This is a national centre of educational and research excellence, fostering an appreciation for, and understanding of, religious diversity amongst all New Zealanders.
MARSDEN FUND COUNCILAUT Business School Professor Jarrod Haar joined a new cohort of prominent academics appointed to the Marsden Fund Council by Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Megan Woods.
Jarrod was tasked with bringing his teaching and research supervision experience to the Council as the new convener of the Economics and Human Behavioural Sciences Panel.
GOVERNMENT CHIEF ADVISOR, HEALTH AND SAFETYAssociate Professor of Employment Relations Dr Felicity Lamm was appointed Government Chief Advisor, Health and Safety and is on secondment from AUT’s Occupational Health and Safety Research Centre.
As part of the role, Felicity is supporting the sector in health and safety and is available to 35 government agencies working in the area of occupational health and safety.
PATRON - SILVER LINE CHARITABLE TRUSTProfessor Max Abbott CNZM was appointed as co-patron of the Silver Line Charitable Trust New Zealand, along with Sir Bob Harvey KNZM QSO.
Silver Line was formed to help reduce loneliness among older New Zealanders. It offers people over the age of 55 a chat line and a befriending service and was launched with the assistance of The Silver Line, which has proven extremely successful in the UK.
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FACILITIES World-class facilities include buildings designed as teaching tools, collaborative learning spaces and specialist laboratories to provoke and inspire students.
PRIME MINISTER OPENS HIGH TECH BUILDING
“New generations of curious students will explore ideas in this space, and these ideas and innovations will expand out into the world.” This was Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s verdict when
she officially opened AUT’s new building, WZ, in August.
The $120 million space at the City Campus is Home to the School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. With highly specialised labs, project workshop spaces, lecture theatres, collaborative social learning environments, cafés and a gallery, WZ is more than just a building full of lecture theatres and classrooms. Designed to reflect the evolution in teaching and learning, the space is a living lab where students can test their theories on the building itself.
The building’s te reo name, Ngā Wai Hono, attests to this. Roughly translated to “the confluence” - the idea of connectedness depicting the merging and welling-up of water sources, akin to the comingling and flow of knowledge that students will share with the world. The name also references the historic wells that were discovered during the construction phase.
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AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYPrivate Bag 92006, Auckland 114255 Wellesley Street East, Auckland, New ZealandPhone: +64 9 921 9999www.aut.ac.nz
April 2019