Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa is no stranger to studying at the highest level of tertiary education.
So when appointed as the first ever Vice-Chancellor of Pacific descent for AUT, he understood his role of becoming an ambassador for future Pacific scholars.
“I feel really joyful when I see that students are coming to AUT and they’re being who they are and they’re deepening who they are as people as they embark on that really courageous journey to study.”
AUT recently celebrated ten years of their UniPrep program which targets high school leavers assisting them in the transition from secondary to tertiary study.
Held AUT South Campus in Manukau, it runs for four weeks and involves programmes which help sharpen basic study skills and while incorporating a cultural element to help students socialise.
“We’re the only university that has a substantial presence in South Auckland, so its pretty special to us here in AUT,” Toeolesulusulu says..
“But it also means that we’ve got about two and a half thousand students over those 10 years that have come through the Uniprep program and many of them have only gone on to study because of the difference UniPrep made in their life.
“I have to say that university was not like this when I went to university and that’s part of what I am proud of.” Toeolesulusulu added.
Taking part in this year’s UniPrep festivities were high school leavers Kahlen Gray and Toro Ina. Gray is a first year student studying education and was grateful for the opportunities UniPrep had provided over the four weeks.
“Being in this space I never expected it to be what it was, you know. Having so much support from the lecturers and learning more about my whakapapa it was such an experience I am grateful for,” she says.
“I was kinda nervous because I didn’t know what to do ,” Toro added.
“But after bonding with my village Ururangi and my Nav’s Trinity and Pote it’s really good to know our culture and everything.
With the academic year now in full swing, Toeolesulusulu hopes to build on the momentum UniPrep has provided.
“We have programs that follow through from what happens at UniPrep. And that include a thing called ‘village meets’ which is the next step to allow students to be in their area of study but maintain those connections and make sure when they need support, or when they want to reconnect that they are able to do it,” he says.
“The whole purpose is to start but not to finish you know. This is not the end of AUT’s commitment to your success, but it is a pretty big sign and a great way to begin.”
