Steve Hinge

Steve Hinge has lectured all around the world but believes he is rich beyond words to be living in Gisborne and teaching at EIT Tairawhiti.

After lecturing students from 60 nations in huge theatres where people are “just anonymous shapes”, he loves the pastoral care and close engagement with small groups of students in his Bachelor of Business Studies and Diploma in Business Management classes.

“It’s absolutely amazing here,” says Steve who, in an earlier life as an RNZAF air traffic controller and intelligence gatherer, had four near-death experiences.

“I was serving with a 5,000-strong International Peacekeeping Force in an active warzone in Sinai in 1981-2. Life was cheap there.”

Steve and a colleague at EIT Hawke’s Bay also co-lecture some classes by way of electronic teaching with wide screens, smart boards and student microphones in both.

“The concept has massive potential,” says Steve, who has a strong IT background and wide international experience in online teaching. “It’s like being an entertainer. The students love the crossfire of opinions and intellectual argument between us, and get caught up in it.”

When he graduated (top of 900 students) with his Master of Business Administration from Henley University of Reading, UK, in 1998, he thought it was “pretty cool” but now on the cusp of receiving his PhD, he feels very humble. “It’s taken me five years to add an atom of knowledge to the world.”

His thesis examines the influence of crucibles (overwhelming obstacles) on the development of leadership capability and
has lead him to develop the concept of “surthrival” – how and why people survive/thrive against overwhelming odds in life.