Student Mentoring | Fesoasoni

Education plays a significant role in strengthening the health, wellbeing, and future opportunities of our people. The IUE Mentorship Model supports student success through whakawhanaungatanga, creating positive and meaningful relationships between students, researchers, educators, and communities. Through these connections, students are encouraged to grow in confidence, recognise their strengths, explore new pathways, and see themselves represented within health, research, science, and technology.

By supporting culturally safe and inclusive learning spaces, we aim to reduce barriers to education and create greater opportunities for rangatahi from communities that have historically been underserved. Through mentorship, shared knowledge, and ongoing support, IUE seeks to advance the health and wellbeing of whānau and aiga, nurture the aspirations of future generations, and contribute to a healthier and more equitable Aotearoa for all her people.

Participants will strengthen their ability to apply a Te Tiriti lens to their work, embedding these principles into research planning, engagement processes, and organisational practice. Through practical discussion and reflection, the workshops examine how meaningful partnerships with Māori communities can be fostered, how Māori rights and aspirations can be upheld, and how culturally responsive approaches can contribute to more equitable outcomes.

The series also deepens participants' understanding of Māori data sovereignty and the governance of Māori data, providing practical tools and approaches that support accountability, participation, and shared decision-making. By translating principles into practice, participants will build the confidence and capability to create lasting, positive change within their organisations and alongside Māori communities.