AUT Partnership Story

Partnership Story: Building Presence and Compassion at Auckland’s University of Technology

AUT and BlueSkyMinds have partnered together since 2018 to offer a range of mental skills based programmes to AUT Staff

BlueSkyMinds AUT Case Study: Supporting the Team's Professional Development at AUT

Background:

In 2018, survey feedback from AUT staff indicated that mindfulness-based training to support professional development would be a highly valued addition to the range of training programmes offered by AUT's Talent and Culture team.

Given BlueSkyMinds adherence to research-based curriculum and highly trained facilitators, AUT chose to partner with them to create a programme that would suit the culture at AUT and align to the values and aspirations of AUT’s people.

The Initiative:

In 2018, AUT piloted an 8 week programme (2hrs per week) entitled “Being Present”. This Curriculum is founded on research-based mindfulness training created by Oxford (MBCT) and UMass Universities (MBSR) and customised to align with AUT's culture and values.

Being Present was open to all staff. The initial pilot was well attended and pre and post self reported feedback indicated an increase in presence and focus, and resilience, as well as a decrease in self reported stress

Based on these pilot results, this programme has now been extended to offer the following initiatives for AUT people:

• Regular Eight Week (2 hours per week) “Being Present” Programmes offered throughout the year.
• A Four Week ‘Level Two’ advanced Being Present mindfulness programme.
• Refresher sessions for Being Present “graduates” to attend.
• Offering a “Leading with Presence” Eight week programme designed to strengthen resilience, wellbeing, self-awareness, focus and ability to respond positively to change for People Leaders.