Abstract:
This research thesis uses qualitative methodology to explore the barriers that exist for Pacific peoples students in commerce degrees at the University of Auckland. Data was collected from eight individual life-story interviews, from people that self-identified as Pacific peoples and had at least a year of experience in the commerce programmes offered by the University of Auckland Business School. The findings reveal perceived barriers for Pacific students, yet also indicated success factors salient to Pacific educational outcomes. In linking these findings to the identity development literature, it acknowledges that identity development does occur in emerging adulthood (Arnett, 2006b). However, it also suggests that the underlying assumptions in Marcia’s (1966) identity status paradigm do not adequately represent the identity formation of Pacific peoples. In particular, this study reinforces arguments put forth within the identity literature for research that investigates the identity development of people beyond normative, developed, Western contexts (Hammack, 2008; Schwartz, 2005). Implications for Pacific peoples, tertiary organisations and business organisations are offered in addition to directions for future research.