Strengthening the Vaka: From Policy Assessment to Collective Dreaming in Pacific Higher Education Equity

• In Event: Partnerships for transformative systems change

Proposal

Our Spencer Foundation Vision Grant navigated uncharted waters, evolving from traditional policy evaluation into a living model for transformative educational change. Initially designed to assess three New Zealand government policies addressing Pacific peoples' inequity in higher education, our vaka (canoe) changed course when political shifts eliminated two policy interventions following the 2023 election. Like skilled Pacific navigators reading changing currents, we transformed this challenge into an opportunity to fundamentally reimagine what meaningful change could look like when Pacific communities hold the compass.

Our approach was anchored in Fa'afaletui research methodology, a traditional Samoan cultural framework that weaves together perspectives from three societal positions: the mountain's broad view (policy makers), the treetops' elevated perspective (researchers), and the intimate knowledge of those in the canoe close to the fish (communities). This methodology created sacred space for authentic collaboration across typically siloed sectors, honoring the vā (relational connections) that bind our work together.

Our three-phase voyage included: developing dynamic infographics that made complex policy accessible to all voices; conducting a three-day overnight fono where relationships were nurtured and collective dreams took shape; and hosting focused development sessions where stream leaders crafted detailed proposals. The heart of our process was the "bowl of hopes" where participants wrote aspirations for Pacific people they love, creating a vessel of collective dreams that grounded every decision in real lives rather than abstract metrics. Our crew expanded from 2 initial navigators to 37 collaborators including 12 Pacific researchers, 14 Pacific community members spanning generations and islands, and 6 policy makers. This growth reflected our commitment to genuine collective wisdom-making, where every voice shapes the direction of our shared vaka.

Several critical insights emerged from our journey. Adaptability flows like ocean currents: when political storms eliminated our original destinations, our diverse crew became our greatest strength for charting new courses toward transformative change. Authentic collaboration requires both structure and fluidity: our three-phase approach provided the vessel's framework while maintaining space for the unpredictable winds of community dreams and aspirations. Deep connection sustains the longest voyages: our bowl of hopes created shared purpose that continuously anchored our work in love for our people rather than institutional demands. Collective knowledge-making transforms the very nature of research: effective partnerships require creating spaces where transformation can be imagined collectively before implementation, where communities don't just participate in research, but shape its very soul.

Our voyage raises critical questions for international education researchers navigating similar waters: How do we balance structured processes with the organic flow needed for authentic community voice? What happens when researchers step back and communities take the helm? How can indigenous methodologies like Fa'afaletui guide more relationally-grounded research practices globally?

This project demonstrates that when political constraints block traditional pathways, Pacific-centered approaches can chart new courses toward more innovative and transformative solutions for educational equity. Sometimes the most powerful research happens when we let our communities navigate.

Author

• Sereana Naepi, University of Auckland