Adult Ākonga Recognised at Wintec Awards
Students studying with Wintec were recognised and celebrated at the 20th annual Adult Learner Awards event this week.
The annual event, hosted at Wintec’s City campus, highlighted the outstanding achievements of ākonga (students) over the age of 25 years.
Four award categories made up the event: Adult Learner Award (two winners), Foundation Adult Learner Award, Māori and Pacific Adult Learner Award (two winners), and International Adult Learner Award.
Overall, 28 finalists from a range of study fields were named across the four categories.
Nominees were selected based on their enthusiasm and commitment to their mahi, support of their peers, and willingness and drive to learn and share new things.
Attendees at Wintec Adult Learner Awards 2024
The Winners
The award winners were carefully chosen by a selection panel and received $1,000 in prize money each.
Recipients of this year’s two Adult Learner Awards were Kate Cooke (Graduate Diploma Applied Information Technology) and David Lamond (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy).
The Foundation Adult Learner Award went to Li Li Dong (New Zealand Certificate in Hairdressing, Level 3).
The two Māori and Pacific Adult Learner Awards were presented to Susan Pahuru (Bachelor of Nursing, Tihei Mauri Ora stream) and Amber Kupa (Bachelor of Midwifery).
The International Adult Learner Award was awarded to Ivan Barankov (Master of Science, Human Performance Science).
To learn more about this year's winners, click here.
Wintec Adult Learner Award winners 2024
Shelley Wilson, Executive Director - Teaching and Learning with Wintec said 49% (4,967) of Wintec ākonga are adult learners (over 25 years) with approximately half of them being over the age of 35 years.
“Some of them are studying to retrain, some have never completed schooling, some are part-time, some are full-time, and a lot of them might be the first of their whānau who have completed a qualification. However, what they do all have in common is that they are not only studying, they’re also working, they’re looking after whānau, supporting their communities, and/ or have overcome health issues,” Shelley said.
Shelley acknowledged how nominees had been identified as people who not only experience the challenges of being adult ākonga but they have an infectious passion for learning and the ability to share that passion with others.
2023 Māori and Pacific Adult Learner Award winner Rawiri Keelan attended the event as a guest speaker.
Rawiri shared an inspirational story about his challenging journey with studying and how his whānau saying of “keep on keeping on”, coupled with support from his kids and Wintec kaimahi (staff), helped him to overcome the challenges life has thrown him.
Enrolling with Wintec in 2019, Rawiri was able to connect with others who shared similar experiences to his own.
Through the COVID lockdowns, Rawiri was unable to attend classes in person, but said Wintec “did all that they could to accommodate me”.
“Undoubtably you’ve heard the story of ‘those who can’t, teach’. But that is so wrong with regard to the people of Wintec. I know for a fact that the people of Wintec, not only do they teach what they do, but they do what they say,” Rawiri said.
2023 Māori and Pacific Adult Learner Award winner and guest speaker, Rawiri Keelan
The event MC Dr Peter Maulder, a senior researcher with Wintec, closed the ceremony by thanking all in attendance and conducting a brief karakia.
About the Adult Learner Awards
To be nominated for an Adult Learner Award, students must be over 25 years old, enrolled in a full or part-time programme at Wintec, and balance roles and responsibilities associated with being an adult learner.
Nominees should demonstrate enthusiasm, determination, show support and encouragement to other learners, share new skills, knowledge and abilities, and challenge themselves and others with new ideas.
Wintec’s Adult Learner Awards are part of The Festival of Adult Learning, Ahurei Ākonga a UNESCO initiative supported by the Tertiary Education Commission, adult and community education providers, and the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO.
