Tūhono Programme
Applications close on 2 March 2023
In te reo Māori, the kupu (word) ‘tūhono’ means to connect or join. Tūhono is an extra-curricular programme that aims to connect Te Kura Umanga (UC Business School) students across cultures, and develop their intercultural understanding, over the course of six meetings.
Students will begin the process of getting to know each other in the first meeting by developing and sharing their own pepeha, a way of introducing oneself in te ao Māori (the Māori world).
The second meeting introduces the concept of cultural intelligence (CQ), which is a person's capability to function effectively in culturally diverse situations, with the aim of helping students to identify their own areas of strength and improvement so that they can utilise the former and enhance the latter, during the programme, and beyond.
The final four meetings are designed to enable students to learn about each other and their respective cultures, while at the same time getting an insight into Māori culture, specifically the values and attributes that together form Ngā Uara | Our Values, the UC Organisational Values.
Each meeting will comprise a discussion on an area of difference inspired by these values and attributes:
These attributes underpin Ngā Uara | Our Values. An important sub-dimension is to show respect and empathy (aroha) when interacting with the members of another culture by behaving in a way that is correct (tika) and true (pono) to the principles and values of that culture. This requires a knowledge of accepted norms of behaviour in different cultures. The aim of this meeting is to learn about key norms and ways of behaving in the countries and cultures represented in the group.
The principle of whanaungatanga focuses on relationships, particularly the relationships that exist within groups. It is about seeing oneself as part of a greater whole, not just an individual, which brings with it both rights and responsibilities. As Mead (2003, p. 32) notes, “individuals expect to be supported by their relatives near and distant, but the collective group also expects the support and help of its individuals.” The aim of this meeting is to explore, and discuss examples of, the extent to which this orientation is present (or not) in the countries and cultures represented in the group.
Manaakitanga is about respecting and enhancing the ‘mana’ of others through generosity, kindness and care. Mana refers to the prestige, authority, status or reputation of a person, place or object. In uplifting the mana of others by treating them well, regardless of their status or our attitude towards them, we also maintain our own mana. While being much more than this, manaakitanga includes being a good host to one’s visitors, which is the focus of this meeting. The aim is to discuss similarities and differences in the importance attached to being a responsible and generous host in the countries and cultures represented in the group, and the practices associated with this.
Tiakitanga means guardianship or stewardship. It is about caring for the wellbeing and development of the resources that exist within a group and its wider community, including but not limited to people, the environment, culture, knowledge, and language. This is the responsibility of everyone in the group, not only those in leadership positions, but it does demand a particular type of leadership, one where success is not defined by individual recognition, profit, or other narrow metrics, but the wider impact that we have. The aim of this meeting is to discuss the different conceptions of leadership that exist within the group, and how these are influenced by culture.
2023 Semester 1 dates
- Meeting 1 – Thursday, 2 March, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 102
- Meeting 2 – Thursday, 9 March, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 003 (Music)
- Meeting 3 – Thursday, 16 March, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 528
- Meeting 4 – Thursday, 23 March, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 528
- Meeting 5 – Thursday, 11 May, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 528
- Meeting 6 – Thursday, 25 May, 16:00-17:30 at Rehua 226 (Te Moana nui a Kiwa)
UC Business School CQ Certificate
This is an approved experience under the UC Business School CQ Certificate. Students who participate in the second meeting focused on CQ, and at least four out of five other meetings, as well as meet all other requirements, will receive a UC Business School CQ Certificate.