Client: Te Wānanga o raukawa
Services: Marketing Research, Stakeholder Engagement
Year: 2016
Brief: Undertake a comprehensive market research investigation to assist Te Wānanga o Raukawa in assessing the feasibility of their Marae Based Studies offerings.
Contributors: Project Lead – William Stewart; Research Consultant – Duncan McIntosh
Te Wānanga o Raukawa (TWOR), a tikanga Māori tertiary education provider, engaged our services to conduct a feasibility study for Marae Based Studies (MBS). As part of our research, we evaluated the viability of continuing operations at four MBS sites: Kaikohe, Pukekohe, Gisborne, and Turangi.
The purpose of the study was to determine if TWOR should continue offering courses at these sites by addressing key questions. We analysed student demand and growth potential, financial sustainability, and the alignment of course offerings with community and enterprise needs.
Our methodology involved comprehensive analysis, including TWOR student enrolment statistics, student profiles, achievement rates, revenue and funding figures, operational costs, site location demographics, and other tertiary education opportunities in the respective locations.
Throughout the project, we worked closely with TWOR management and personnel, conducting project meetings and consulting on options and recommendations.
The final feasibility study was delivered in a comprehensive Microsoft Word report, ensuring TWOR had the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding the future of the MBS sites.
Our expertise in engaging and communicating with Māori stakeholders was instrumental in creating a research program that Māori participants found engaging and comfortable to participate in, freely contributing their valuable responses. By fostering a culturally sensitive and inclusive environment, we were able to extract rich and authentic insights that informed the feasibility study and strengthened our partnership with Te Wānanga o Raukawa.