Doctoral Student Profile

Jane Furness

Supervisors: Neville Robertson, Stephen May

The role of intergenerational approaches in raising foundation competencies to achieve citizen-centred outcomes
The research will investigate Aotearoa New Zealand examples of intergenerational approaches to raising the foundation competencies of literacy, language and numeracy (literacy) to identify the effects of participation in such programmes and the factors that are critical to the achievement of optimal outcomes for adult participants, their families and their communities.  The research will use mainly qualitative methods in a cohort study of two or three programmes reflective of different domains in a typology of intergenerational literacy programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study will investigate the effects of participation in the programmes on the adult participants, how these effects relate to their personal well-being and their engagement as family and community members and as citizens of Aotearoa, and the flow-on effects to members of this wider social network.