Pastoral Care Self Review
Report on Review of the Education Code of Practice 2021
October 2023
Laidlaw College is student-focused and is committed to providing learning environments that are safe and inclusive, and support positive learning experiences for all our students.
Our Student Support team is focused on student safety, health, and well-being to enhance the student experience, which is consistent with Laidlaw College’s core values. They journey alongside the student and provide targeted support to develop their academic, personal, social, and cultural relationships. Laidlaw responds to the needs of the learners and has dedicated Māori and Pasifika support staff to meet the needs of culturally diverse learners.
Under the Education and Training Act 2020, the Ministry of Education has released the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021. The new Code, in place from 1 January 2022, combines the existing 2020 Interim Domestic Code and 2019 International Code.
The new Code sets clear expectations for learner safety and well-being in tertiary education. Outcomes 1-7 apply to all tertiary learners (students) and Outcomes 8-12 apply to international learners (students).
ALL TERTIARY LEARNERS (DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL)
1. A learner well-being and safety system.
2. Learner voice.
3. Safe, inclusive, supportive, and accessible physical and digital learning environments.
4. Learners are safe and well.
5. A positive, supportive, and inclusive environment in student accommodation.
6. Accommodation, administrative practices, and contracts.
7. Student accommodation facilities and services.
INTERNATIONAL TERTIARY LEARNERS
8. Responding to the distinct well-being and safety needs of international tertiary learners
9. Prospective international tertiary learners are well informed
10. Offer, enrolment, contracts, insurance and visa
11. International learners receive appropriate orientations, information and advice
12. Safety and appropriate supervision of international tertiary learners.
See the NZQA information guide for more details.
SUMMARY
- Laidlaw is a not-for-profit organisation with a Vision of a world shaped by love, compelled and informed by the Gospel. Laidlaw has excellent relationships with its students that are meaningful and respectful and focused on developing a student holistically with love.
- Our Mission is to equip students and scholars to renew their communities with a faith as intelligent as it is courageous. The ultimate focus is the communities from which its students are drawn and to which its graduates return. Laidlaw equips its students with a faith that transforms and renews these communities.
- Laidlaw’s committed Governing members and the Senior Leadership Team over the years have focused on developing student agency and engaging with the learner's voice. Laidlaw encourages student feedback through the Student Council, end of semester surveys, and student representation on the National Academic Committee and the National Governing Council.
- Laidlaw has focussed on the solid development of adult education principles and practice, deliberately bringing students into a community of learning as well as a community of practice.
- Clearly defined policies and procedures are outlined in the General Information and Regulations and the Academic Policies Manual which is reviewed regularly.
The 2023 self-review process focused on the 2022 review. Outcomes and processes that require further implementation were identified.
- To set up regular review cycles.
- To disseminate refresher training for staff through regular all-staff meetings.
- Health & Safety Committee to report on critical incidents to SLT and NGC.
- Update student surveys to include specific well-being questions and options to identify diverse learners.
- Ensure Distance Learning student voice is included.
- Set up a locked channel on Teams to hold a centralised Complaints Register.
- Drafting an action plan to highlight areas that need development for ongoing good practice and/or compliance.
The safety and well-being strategic goals recommended for 2022-25 are:
- Students feel safe and well in the Laidlaw community of learning
- All remaining student accommodations is safely phased out by November 2023
- International students are safely and well supported in their Laidlaw experience.
View the Self Review Attestation PDF here