EDUCSW 201 : Diversity in Aotearoa/New Zealand
Education and Social Work
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
- Race and Ethnicity: An exploration of the historical and contemporary implications of racial identities in Aotearoa-New Zealand, with particular focus on the indigenous Māori experience, as well as the experiences of Pasifika communities and other migrant groups.
- Culture and Biculturalism: A critical analysis of the principles of biculturalism and multiculturalism in New Zealand, examining cultural dynamics, power relations, and the integration of indigenous Māori perspectives alongside those of immigrant populations.
- Social Class and Socioeconomic Access: A study of the social stratification in Aotearoa-New Zealand and its influence on access to economic, political, and social resources. The course will address issues of inequality and barriers to participation in society.
- Sex, Sexuality, and Gender: A look at the diversity of gender and sexual identities within New Zealand, exploring the intersections of these identities with broader social norms and structures. This will include an analysis of gender equity, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the impact of social attitudes on marginalised groups.
- Ability and Inclusivity: The course will investigate issues of disability and inclusivity in education, the workplace, and wider society, with an emphasis on creating more equitable environments for people of all abilities.
- Sport as a Site of Racial Struggle: An exploration of the role of sport in Aotearoa-New Zealand as a space where racial and cultural struggles are both played out and contested, with attention to how Māori, Pasifika, and other communities experience race in the sporting context.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 7: | Collaboration |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse historical and contemporary discourses relating to diversity and difference with respect to public policy (e.g. health and well-being; social income and housing; education and social services) in Aotearoa New Zealand. (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
- Consider the significance of the Treaty of Waitangi and biculturalism in relation to one’s understanding and responses to New Zealand’s increasing diversity. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 4.1, 7.1 and 8.1)
- Demonstrate critical understanding of concepts such as social justice, inclusion, equity and equality as applied to current issues and concerns within Tamaki Makaurau and Aotearoa. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.2, 8.1 and 8.2)
- Critically examine social, demographic, political and cultural influences that can shape intersections between culture, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic location, sexuality, disability, age in relation to selected contexts and settings. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1 and 8.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Reflection | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Annotated bibliography | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Portfolio | 40% | Individual Coursework |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
| Reflection | ||||||||||
| Annotated bibliography | ||||||||||
| Portfolio | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15-point course.
A typical semester including the study/exam period totals approximately 15 weeks. On average, students are expected to spend 10 hours per week in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.
For this 15-point course you should expect to commit 36 hours to delivery of the course. You can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 100-120 hours to independent learning. This may include reading (and more reading), note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group work, problem solving, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment, test and/or exam preparation and completion.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
There is no required textbook for this course. A range of articles and course materials will be provided through Talis, the University’s online reading list management system.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
In recent years, the course consistently receives 100% satisfaction overall from students who complete the course evaluations. In 2024 the threshold rate for student feedback was not met meaning that few students completed the SET evaluations. Informal course feedback received in class or via email indicates that the range of course content was viewed as positive, that guest speakers on various topics helped to provide different perspectives, and that the family history assignment was useful in understanding family dynamics, views and helped to connect students with various family members.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.