Students’ Perceptions of higher education in Sāmoa: Finagalo fa’aalia o alo ma fanau a’oa’oina ile Iunivesetē Aoao o Sāmoa

Abstract

This thesis evaluates and analyses Sāmoan student perceptions of higher education in Sāmoa. This work offers an insider’s account of Sāmoan education in particular, focussing on current students belonging to the National University of Sāmoa (NUS). A Pasifika and Sociological framework was used in this study, employing Pasifika research methods of talanoa and aspects of Fa’afaletui. Nineteen NUS students and one student support staff were interviewed for this study. This thesis is not focussed on exploring linear pathways instead it focusses on student resilience in prioritizing their education. Thus, important of this work is to inform the National University of Sāmoa of their students’ needs and the challenges they face in order to provide appropriate support that are culturally and socially responsive to a Sāmoan student’s worldview.