Latest news with #VanMeer
Scoop
5 days ago
- General
- Scoop
Transformative Programme Equips Students For Success
Takatū is a transformative, online introductory course at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) designed to be accessible to all students, supporting success from the very beginning of students' academic journey. Pilot results are already showing impact: students who completed Takatū achieved a 6% higher pass rate and a 22% higher grade point average than their matched peers who didn't complete the course. 'Takatū reflects our deep commitment to equity and academic success,' says Professor Catherine Moran, UC Tumu Tuarua Akoranga | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic. 'The early results from Takatū show what we've always known — that well-supported students thrive. 'By offering students a meaningful, flexible way to prepare for university life, regardless of their background or circumstances, we are removing barriers to engagement and setting a strong foundation for learning. 'We are reimagining how the university can adapt to meet students where they are — geographically, culturally, and at different stages of life,' she says. Recognising that nearly half of all students are unable to attend in-person orientation events, UC's Kia Angitu | Student Success team developed a more flexible and accessible solution. Takatū provides access to essential information and guidance even before enrolment. With five student-informed modules, the course builds confidence, fosters connection and ensures all learners arrive at UC feeling prepared and welcomed. More than 400 students completed the course in its pilot phase, with early feedback showing clear signs of impact. Students reported greater clarity and confidence entering their first semester, and early academic results reflect that this is translating into success. Takatū is part of Kia Angitu, UC's Student Success Programme, which is designed to create equitable, engaging learning environments and support students through their transition into tertiary study. Together with initiatives such as PALS (Peer-Assisted Learning Sessions), ACE (Analytics for Course Engagement), and Te Pātaka (a central hub of student support services), Takatū ensures students aren't left to navigate university life alone. Aidan Van Meer, a second-year student on the Chartered Accounting pathway, is an example of how Kia Angitu initiatives such as PALS help students build confidence and connection. Van Meer says the weekly peer learning sessions provide more than just academic support. 'It's not like a typical classroom - it's more like teamwork,' he says. 'We are all in the same boat, just helping each other out. I've made real friendships through PALS, and it helped me adjust to university, even with things like essay writing and planning my week.' Now, as a PALS leader, Van Meer is passionate about giving back. 'I love that I can support other students who might be going through similar experiences to mine when I started university. And it's rewarding for me, too, I've developed my own skills and I'm constantly learning. It's more than just a job.' Further developments for Takatū are already underway. These include a mobile app version for improved accessibility, the launch of a new Module Zero in July to support prospective students even before they apply, and ongoing content enhancements - including shorter videos, more interactivity, and culturally responsive design. From the outset, UC has prioritised understanding the lived experiences and diverse needs of its learners. The Takatū course was shaped by more than 8,000 student responses, with 14 students from a range of backgrounds featured in a series of short videos to enhance relatability and relevance. As Takatū and the wider Kia Angitu programme continue to evolve, UC's purpose remains the same: to empower all students to start strong and succeed on their own terms.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Small business owner puts American-made products to test
(NewsNation) — With all the back-and-forth on tariffs, a small business owner decided to put American buyers to the test by launching an experiment to see whether or not they're willing to pay extra for American-made products as they say they are. Ramon van Meer, the owner of Austin, Texas-based Afina, which makes filtered shower heads, listed his products as either American-made or Asian-made, costing either $239 or $129, respectively. Van Meer found that out of the more than 25,000 website visitors, only 24 shoppers added the American-made product to their carts, but they did not buy it at all. Van Meer also found that 3,500 customers added the cheaper, Asian-made shower head to their cart, and more than 600 of them were sold. US cuts 'de minimis' tariff on low-value packages from China Van Meer joined 'NewsNation Now' on Wednesday and said the reason he wanted to experiment is that he and other small businesses are affected by tariff increases. When he saw the tariff increase jump to 50%, he wondered how he would be able to find manufacturers in the U.S. 'I wondered if people really were willing to pay that extra premium in order for me to even have a business,' Van Meer said. He said from the experiment, he was surprised and not surprised because he believes shoppers will favor good deals and want to pay as little as possible. 'I was not expecting that zero people would opt in for the made in the U.S.A. version,' Van Meer said. He added that in general, his American-made inventory doesn't sell much at all. Inflation cooled again last month as grocery and gas prices fell Van Meer said there are currently no factories in the country that make the specialty shower heads his company has, and that is what is causing a higher price difference. He said that after seeing how his experiment played out, he believes there is no option to find a solution in the U.S. 'Because the price difference was significant, I don't blame them either,' Van Meer said. 'I also think a lot of consumers understand that just because it's made in a different country doesn't mean it's less quality.' Van Meer said if everyone knew that some things are the same product and quality, business owners will opt in for what is more cost-efficient. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Insider
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
A business owner tested if customers would pay more for American-made. The results were 'sobering.'
As a small business owner, Ramon van Meer said he's used to hearing people say they'd be willing to pay more for products made in America. When President Donald Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports by an additional 145%, van Meer decided to see if shoppers would put their money where their mouth is. "I wanted to know the answer and then use it for my own company," the Afina founder told Business Insider. So the serial entrepreneur set about finding US suppliers to make his best-selling product: a specialized filtered shower head. Van Meer said his filters are made in the US, some additional materials are sourced in Vietnam, and the final product is made in China with a single supplier. To move everything over to the US, he said he had to find four to six separate suppliers who would handle various aspects of the production process. All told, he found it would cost three times as much to produce — more than the cost of simply paying the tariff. Armed with real numbers, he set out to do a test with two identical products, with the only difference being their origin and, critically, their price: visitors to Afina's website were presented with the option of a Chinese-made item for $129 or a US-made version for $239. "I'm big on just testing it out with real data and real purchases," van Meer said. "Not asking customers, not a survey, not even add-to-carts." "When somebody has to pay for it, that's the actual real data," he added. After several days and more than 25,000 visitors, he said he sold 584 of the lower-priced shower heads and not one single purchase of a US-made version. In a blog post that went viral, van Meer called the results "sobering." "We wanted to believe customers would back American labor with their dollars. But when faced with a real decision — not a survey or a comment section — they didn't," he wrote. Nowadays van Meer said he's spending most of his time trying to shift production out of China to a country with a lower tariff rate. "Staying in China is not sustainable because even if they make a deal, we don't know what's going to happen," he said. "The United States is also not an option, because there's just no facilities that can make it." Van Meer said Afina currently has enough inventory in its US warehouses to last until August, at which point he would have to start charging for the tariff. Asked whether he would roll that cost into the price or apply a surcharge, as other businesses have said they would do, van Meer said he hadn't yet decided. "We'll probably do testing," he said.
