title: Factors affecting students' sense of inclusion in the undergraduate engineering program at Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland)

authors: Dhopade, Priyanka

subjects: belonging

abstract: Background:
Women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQIA+ people have historically been excluded from the engineering profession. When they do pursue engineering, they often face challenges within both education and industry. Retention is a growing issue; for example, women in industry have significantly higher turnover rates than men.

Purpose/Hypothesis:
Feelings of belonging, satisfaction, and perceptions of one's future career are important for retention in engineering education. However, little is known about the factors that impact these constructs in tertiary education—where foundational engineering experiences occur—for a range of potentially intersectional social identities in contexts other than the United States.

Methods:
We designed an online questionnaire (n = 379) and a series of focus groups (n = 17) with engineering students at Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland) in Aotearoa (New Zealand). We applied thematic analysis to extract a list of common factors that influenced students' experiences in this unique context.

Results:
Students who were unsure of or did not want to disclose parts of their identity reported the lowest sense of belonging and satisfaction. The factors that specifically impacted historically excluded groups included unsupportive working environments, not being respected academically, and exclusionary course content.

Conclusion:
Our findings identify factors that contributed to students' experiences that may impact retention in Aotearoa but have implications for other contexts. Finally, we make recommendations to engineering education practitioners on how to support (and retain) students from historically excluded groups, including dedicated learning and social environments, inclusive course content, and awareness education on inclusivity.

text: Factors affecting students' sense of inclusion in the undergraduate engineering program at Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland) Background:
Women, ethnic minorities, and LGBTQIA+ people have historically been excluded from the engineering profession. When they do pursue engineering, they often face challenges within both education and industry. Retention is a growing issue; for example, women in industry have significantly higher turnover rates than men.

Purpose/Hypothesis:
Feelings of belonging, satisfaction, and perceptions of one's future career are important for retention in engineering education. However, little is known about the factors that impact these constructs in tertiary education—where foundational engineering experiences occur—for a range of potentially intersectional social identities in contexts other than the United States.

Methods:
We designed an online questionnaire (n = 379) and a series of focus groups (n = 17) with engineering students at Waipapa Taumata Rau (The University of Auckland) in Aotearoa (New Zealand). We applied thematic analysis to extract a list of common factors that influenced students' experiences in this unique context.

Results:
Students who were unsure of or did not want to disclose parts of their identity reported the lowest sense of belonging and satisfaction. The factors that specifically impacted historically excluded groups included unsupportive working environments, not being respected academically, and exclusionary course content.

Conclusion:
Our findings identify factors that contributed to students' experiences that may impact retention in Aotearoa but have implications for other contexts. Finally, we make recommendations to engineering education practitioners on how to support (and retain) students from historically excluded groups, including dedicated learning and social environments, inclusive course content, and awareness education on inclusivity.

year: 2025

title: Music information retrieval research and its context at the University of Waikato

authors: Bainbridge, David

subjects: computer science

abstract: This article describes the digital music library work at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. At the heart of the project is a music information retrieval workbench for evaluating algorithms and performing experiments used in conjunction with four datasets of symbolic notation ranging from contemporary to classical pieces. The outcome of this experimentation is woven together with strands from our larger digital library project to form the Web-based music digital library MELDEX (short for melody index). An overview of the workbench software architecture is given along with a description of how this fits the larger digital library design, followed by several examples of MELDEX in use.

text: Music information retrieval research and its context at the University of Waikato This article describes the digital music library work at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. At the heart of the project is a music information retrieval workbench for evaluating algorithms and performing experiments used in conjunction with four datasets of symbolic notation ranging from contemporary to classical pieces. The outcome of this experimentation is woven together with strands from our larger digital library project to form the Web-based music digital library MELDEX (short for melody index). An overview of the workbench software architecture is given along with a description of how this fits the larger digital library design, followed by several examples of MELDEX in use.

year: 2004

title: Ko Tikanga Te Mātāmua:  ngā pūrākau, ngā pakiwaitara, me mihi, ka tika

authors: Carrucan, Edmond Thomas

subjects: Law

abstract: This study highlights pūrākau and pakiwaitara as legal precedents that can bring Tikanga to life in unique ways. Using Kaupapa Māori and Mana Tāne methodologies, I address two problems within a larger project towards further normalising Tikanga within the legal system and legal education.

The first problem is the key misconception that there are two primary sources of law: statutes and common law. My proposed solution involves reconceiving three primary sources of law: Tikanga, statutes and common law. The second problem is how to source from Tikanga in making legal arguments. My proposed solution encourages story analysis of pūrākau and pakiwaitara and the use of these legal precedents within legal submissions. Accordingly, this study has two purposes.

In embarking on my journey of storytelling, I address the first purpose which is to test whether Tikanga is the first law and supreme law of Aotearoa, as was the seminal proposition of Ani Mikaere. This addresses the key misconception referred to above, that there are only two primary sources of law. Through analysis of Tikanga jurists and Western jurists I conclude Mikaere was right. Tikanga is the supreme law of Aotearoa: Ko Tikanga Te Mātāmua. I propose a new model called Te Whānau Ture as a legal family of three primary law sources representing this finding.

This research then addresses the second purpose in showing how ngā pūrākau me ngā pakiwaitara make valuable contributions to the body of law: me mihi, ka tika. Here, this study proposes a new model called, Whai Matua o Te Ture Māori, a symbolic stingray comprised of fourteen objects of Māori law. Later, I propose a further model Ātea Whakaaro, to enable ethical legal story analysis.

This study responds to (a) indigenising legal education, (b) the inevitability of Tikanga test cases and (c) the current Ao Mārama model. The significance of pūrākau and pakiwaitara in legal settings emerges from this study and a reclaiming of a Māori Legal Method becomes inevitable.

text: Ko Tikanga Te Mātāmua:  ngā pūrākau, ngā pakiwaitara, me mihi, ka tika This study highlights pūrākau and pakiwaitara as legal precedents that can bring Tikanga to life in unique ways. Using Kaupapa Māori and Mana Tāne methodologies, I address two problems within a larger project towards further normalising Tikanga within the legal system and legal education.

The first problem is the key misconception that there are two primary sources of law: statutes and common law. My proposed solution involves reconceiving three primary sources of law: Tikanga, statutes and common law. The second problem is how to source from Tikanga in making legal arguments. My proposed solution encourages story analysis of pūrākau and pakiwaitara and the use of these legal precedents within legal submissions. Accordingly, this study has two purposes.

In embarking on my journey of storytelling, I address the first purpose which is to test whether Tikanga is the first law and supreme law of Aotearoa, as was the seminal proposition of Ani Mikaere. This addresses the key misconception referred to above, that there are only two primary sources of law. Through analysis of Tikanga jurists and Western jurists I conclude Mikaere was right. Tikanga is the supreme law of Aotearoa: Ko Tikanga Te Mātāmua. I propose a new model called Te Whānau Ture as a legal family of three primary law sources representing this finding.

This research then addresses the second purpose in showing how ngā pūrākau me ngā pakiwaitara make valuable contributions to the body of law: me mihi, ka tika. Here, this study proposes a new model called, Whai Matua o Te Ture Māori, a symbolic stingray comprised of fourteen objects of Māori law. Later, I propose a further model Ātea Whakaaro, to enable ethical legal story analysis.

This study responds to (a) indigenising legal education, (b) the inevitability of Tikanga test cases and (c) the current Ao Mārama model. The significance of pūrākau and pakiwaitara in legal settings emerges from this study and a reclaiming of a Māori Legal Method becomes inevitable.

year: 2021