The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is Otago's most flexible undergraduate degree programme, enabling students to study from a selection of more than 40 arts and social science subjects, as well as papers offered elsewhere in the University. Academic breadth is complemented by in-depth knowledge gained through majoring in one or two subjects with the option of minors in one or two others.

Students are taught by research-active scholars, are expected to undertake a diverse range of learning tasks and are challenged to develop their intellectual independence. Graduates of the programme are well-informed, versatile, independent thinkers with the information literacy, communication, research and interpersonal skills necessary for a career or further academic study. The completed BA is an possible qualification for the PGDipArts in the major subject of the degree.

Why study Indigenous Development at Otago?

Whether you want to promote the interests of indigenous people locally or around the world doing a major in He Kura Matanui / Indigenous Development will help you achieve this.

In this programme of study you will learn the value of indigenous knowledge, how it can be preserved, transferred and adapted to suit the needs of modern indigenous communities.

These communities exist in a constantly changing environment. Being able to track the effect of these changes provides insights into how to formulate better, relevant and more inclusive policies and plans for the future development of these peoples.

Indigenous knowledge has its place in every aspect of society. No matter your interest He Kura Matanui / Indigenous Development complements many courses of study:

Environmental sustainability

Resource management

Agriculture

Policy development

Education

Language revitalisation

Primary health care and preventative medicine

Economic wellbeing and independence

Community development

He Kura Matanui / Indigenous Development encourages you to explore the connectivity between these disciplines to enable indigenous communities to determine their own future.

Graduates develop a multidisciplinary, culturally inflected understanding of contemporary indigenous concepts and issues, including the use of cooperation rather than competition, listening as well as communicating with others, and respecting differences.

Career opportunities

Our students are equipped with an understanding of indigenous cultural philosophies that are relevant in a myriad of employment situations.

Graduates with a degree in He Kura Matanui / Indigenous Development have a broad interdisciplinary knowledge base, which can lead to careers in the fields of:

Education

Social Work

Business

Law

Policy and governance

Health

Community organisations