There’s more going on at Ara than you think

When people think of polytechnics, they often picture trades workshops or commercial kitchens. Ara does that, and does it well. What’s less visible is the scale of research activity happening alongside that teaching: nearly 180 active researchers, a growing postgraduate programme and a research culture that continues to strengthen.

Scott Klenner joined Ara at the beginning of 2026 as Research Manager, stepping into a role that sits at the centre of that ecosystem.

His career spans more than two decades across teaching and research leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons, First Class) and Master of Arts with Distinction in Education from the University of Otago. His research has explored teacher agency and how educators navigate theory, policy and professional identity to shape their practice. His broader interests include Māori education, dialogic teaching and student agency.

Before joining Ara, Scott served as Tumuaki Rangahau, Head of Māori Research at Otago Polytechnic. After a period helping lead Capable NZ, he later became Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies, a role that expanded under Te Pūkenga to span both Otago Polytechnic and Ara. That experience gave him insight into how research cultures develop across different institutions and contexts.

“I’ve been the person trying to publish while carrying a full teaching load,” he said. “If we want research to grow, the systems around it have to be clear and workable.”

At Ara, research is supported through Research Leaders, Portfolio Managers, the Research and Postgraduate Office and the Rangahau, Research and Postgraduate Committee. Together, they oversee project approval, ethics, funding applications and research reporting.

Research is also a formal requirement. Under the Education and Training Act, degree-level programmes must be taught mainly by people engaged in research. At Ara, this means producing two recognised research outputs within two years, whether through publications, conference presentations, creative work or other approved scholarly contributions.

Klenner leads the Research and Postgraduate Office alongside Research Coordinator Jo Drysdall, ensuring that research activity is supported, recorded and aligned with both regulatory expectations and Ara’s strategic direction.

Deborah Young, Director of Ako Excellence, said Klenner’s appointment reflects Ara’s intent to continue strengthening its research culture.

“We already have significant research happening across Ara,” she said. “Scott’s leadership helps us support our researchers and continue lifting the visibility of their work.”

For Klenner, the focus is steady and practical.

“There’s real capability here. My role is to connect it, support it and help it flourish.”