Simon Nash, recently appointed as Director Ako, is all about making sure our teachers are supported in their teaching, whether that’s the quality of teaching and learning practices, or evaluation, compliance and academic quality. A new structure will help to achieve this, by creating more cohesion between teams.
What’s changed?
Simon Nash, Director Ako
Simon, who oversees the Te Puna Ako and Te Korowai Kahurangi (formerly Academic Service Centre) teams and the Te Miro pathway is not the only recent recruit. His previous role of Manager of TPA has been filled by Maura Kempin, and Te Miro’s new HoPP is Martin Bassett. New TKK manager, Simon Tries has also joined us from a previous role at MIT.
Simon N. says the functions of the three teams haven’t changed, but the relationship between them has. With TPA, TKK and Te Miro all focussing on the quality of teaching and teacher education in different ways, it made sense to create more synergies in support of teachers’ practice and quality needs.
The link between TPA and Te Miro is a significant collaboration between a service unit and an academic pathway. For the two teams, there’s a strong focus is on applied practice and teacher education and capability, both at Unitec and MindLab by Unitec, and all around New Zealand. The teams will be working together to learn from each other and to trial new approaches such as micro-credentialling.
Previously, TKK’s academic quality and compliance work has been treated largely as separate to TPA’s job of supporting the quality of teaching and learning practices. By bringing these teams closer together, these different aspects of educational quality will be treated as inter-connected parts of teacher capability – an important cultural shift for the teams and for teachers. The two teams will ensure teachers have more seamless support for academic quality; it’s a more efficient and effective way of working.
Our new TKK manager, Simon Tries
Simon N. is excited to have Simon Tries on board, saying “he brings a strong focus on consistent processes and academic quality. He’s also worked for NZQA so has a deep understanding of what’s required. Simon’s focus this year will be on simplifying and standardising some of our systems and working towards a successful EER result.”