Factors affecting the educational achievement of mature Māori information technology students: A case study

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of an investigation into the experiences of academically successful adult Māori students undertaking the Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) programme at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec). This research looked at the participants' motivation for attending Wintec, the barriers (such as financial, social and family hardships) they encountered as they made the transition back to full time study, and their experiences at Wintec. The paper considers the reasons why the participants have achieved well, identifies the support systems they called on, and explores the challenges that they experienced while studying in a tertiary learning environment. Its significance lies in the focus on factors that affect Māori academic success, specifically in information technology, so that teaching approaches and support systems, particularly in the institute of technology and polytechnic (ITP) sector, can enhance the success of Māori in the field of IT.