Bianca Elkington | PhD student driving change in education
This excerpt is from an article originally published on the university Te Pānui Taura | Postgraduate News Bulletin. Kōrero by Brigham Riwai-Couch, Māori Communications Adviser.
Studying at the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka was initially far off her radar, but a soon to be Doctor of Education now finds herself leading meaningful research here.
Bianca Elkington (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Koata, and Ngāi Tahu), has always had a firm belief that education is more than classrooms and qualifications.
She believes that for Māori students especially, using whakapapa and identity are crucial to making spaces where students can thrive.