About the School of Learning, Development and Professional Practice
Nau mai haere mai. Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Taloha ni, Ni Hau, Chào, Ahoj.
A warm welcome to the School of Learning, Development and Professional Practice (LDPP).
We focus on research and teaching in our four Teaching and Research Hubs:
- Early Years, Child Development and Childhood Studies Hub (Chair: Professor Marek Tesar)
- Leadership, Policy, and School Improvement Hub (Chair: Professor Deidre LeFevre)
- Learning Sciences and Psychological Studies in Education Hub (Chair: Professor Gavin Brown)
- Professional Learning and Practice Hub (Chair: A/Professor Lexie Grudnoff)
In LDDP, we have more than 40 permanent academic staff and a large number of casual and honorary appointments. Our contributions to teaching, research, and leadership have a strong local, national, and international reputation. Much of the research in LDPP focuses on investigating and informing practice.
Our School has expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and houses over 70 Doctoral Students. Our expertise has given rise to substantial innovative national and international research as well as professional development contracts. The research in our school focuses on real-world problems, investigating issues identified in our communities.
LDPP is also home to multiple significant programmes, including Educational Leadership postgraduate qualifications and the Early Childhood Studies undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Academic staff also make significant contributions to teaching and supervision in teacher education and liberal arts programmes at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including both PhD and EdD pathways.
Our teaching and supervision demonstrate innovation through the use of multimodal pedagogies and a commitment to creating vibrant learning for a diverse range of students, including a commitment to supporting Māori and Pāsifika student success. Our dedication to high-quality teaching, learning, and research is facilitated and complemented by high-quality professional administrative staff.
We are responsive to our students and professional communities, building positive relationships, disseminating research, and fostering debate that will benefit society. We anticipate that you will be challenged, inspired, and learn from your engagement with our dynamic and diverse teaching and research community.
We look forward to seeing you in a course or at one of our School, Faculty of Education and Social Work, or University events.
Ngā mihi nui,
Professor Marek Tesar, PhD
Head of School