Rotorua Initial Teacher Education Hapori
Become a primary teacher and study in Rotorua
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toira.
Let us keep close together, not far apart.
Do you live in Rotorua or within about one hour’s drive from Rotorua in the Waiariki Region (including Whakatane, Tauranga, Taupo and Tokoroa)?
You can study Primary Teaching by distance with the support of the Rotorua Initial Teacher Education (ITE) hapori. The teaching venue and homeroom for this initiative is based at a local school in Rotorua.
If you have ever thought about becoming a primary teacher and want to study locally, now is the time to apply. You can do this full-time (3 years) or part-time (6 years).
The exciting hapori initiative has been operating since February 2020, and is delivered in partnership by University of Canterbury School of Teacher Education and the Rotorua Principals’ Association.
You will complete the highly-recognised Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) programme. Much of the learning will be by distance learning. Additionally, once a term the kaihautū (leader), a UC lecturer, will provide face-to-face workshops at a local school in Rotorua, to mentor and support you to learn strategies and skills to become an effective and dynamic UC teacher graduate. The UC based Kaihautū will provide regular monthly on-line meetings and will be available online more informally throughout the academic year. The support package allows Rotorua-based students to have curriculum-based, face-to-face lectures and workshops in Rotorua twice a year with high quality UC lecturers who have specialist knowledge.
So what do you have to commit to in Rotorua?
Once a term meetings with the kaihautū (leader), a UC lecturer, and each semester face-to-face lectures/workshops will be organised (approximately 3-4 days per semester).
Professional practice placements in schools (teaching practice) will be in a range of schools in Rotorua and the Waiariki region and organised by the UC professional practice team. The remainder of the time you can study from home.
The Rotorua Initial Teacher Education hapori is based at a local school in Rotorua and offers a full-time or part-time Bachelor of Teaching and Learning (Primary) qualification.
How you will learn?
Most of the course work is completed by Distance Learning. Strong support is provided by a Christchurch based lecturers with a two to three day orientation, weekly support via Zoom and once a term face-to-face Rotorua visit. Classes are small and supportive and lecturers are committed to your learning and development.
Available services
Rotorua regional students will have access to our hapori whare at a local school in Rotorua. Students may also access UC library services, learning support and counselling services via the UC specialist teams.
Meet some of our staff and students
Watch some of our Youtube videos to hear what our students and staff have to say about teaching and the programmes at UC
- Primary Teacher Education programme (this video was made for Online Open Day 2020)
- Tips for applying and the interview process (this video was made for Online Open Day 2021)
- UC Teacher Education student Josh
- UC Teacher Education student Georgia
Thinking about studying Teacher Education in 2023?
Take the next step and talk to us about your study options