Dr de Vries was recognised alongside Professor Angus Hikairo Macfarlane, as UC scored its first double success in the national tertiary teaching awards competition. The annual awards were presented by the Minister of Tertiary Education, the Hon Steven Joyce, at a special ceremony in Wellington in August 2015.
Dr Herb De Vries left high school at 17 and overcame learning difficulties to excel in his own successful manufacturing business, before deciding at 36 that he wanted to be a university lecturer. He completed an MBA and a Certificate in Adult Teaching, which led to a period of contract lecturing and then a position at the Christchurch College of Education Business School. Dr de Vries says the outstanding teaching culture there had a positive impact on his development as an educator and, after completing a Master's and PhD in Management, he accepted a position in UC’s College of Business and Law when the Christchurch Teachers College became the UC College of Education.
Long impressed with the difference great teachers can make to students’ lives, Dr de Vries has gone on to inspire others: "As a youngster, I was plagued with reading and writing problems, but fortunately I had inspiring teachers who encouraged me to overcome these problems.
"Students need to grow as learners and as people, so I encourage them to engage with other students as a learning community. It’s not about me – it’s about inspiring them to set high expectations for themselves. When I walk into a classroom, my students are the centre of my universe – for that period of time, nothing else matters more."
This philosophy saw Dr de Vries through the obstacles created by the Canterbury earthquakes when he delivered lectures to 400 students in tents and offered support to many via drop-in sessions at UC’s Intent Café.
The award includes $20,000 in prize money to be used for career development and to promote best practice in teaching.
