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Changing Of The Guard For EIT Computing School

January 18, 2016

Retiring after 22 years, Dr Stephen Corich has passed over the key – or in this case, the keyboard – to his successor, EIT’s new Head of School Computing, Rebekah Dinwoodie.

Appointed Head of School Business last year, Rebekah now combines that role with managing the computing school, building on the strong linkages and synergies between the two.

When Steve started at EIT, computing technology was beginning to transform the way in which the world communicates and does business.  “Computing,” he says, “was the coming thing.”  Joining EIT, he had already carved out an impressive career.

Dr Stephen Corich makes a symbolic handover to Rebekah Dinwoodie, the new head of EIT’s computing school.

Dr Stephen Corich makes a symbolic handover to Rebekah Dinwoodie, the new head of EIT’s computing school.

The Bachelor of Science graduate progressed to teacher training and then taught mathematics and physics in schools in the Horowhenua before joining the Royal New Zealand Navy as an instructor officer in maths and computing.

Promoted to Ministry of Defence headquarters, he started at the bottom in the computing department and was assistant director when he retired from the forces at the age of 39.

Steve then taught computing at Wellington Polytechnic before he and wife Shirley decided to relocate to Napier because her mother, living in the Bay, was unwell.  It was to be a short-term move, but he doesn’t regret staying on.

“Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s best-kept secret.  It’s got the climate, it’s friendly and there are no problems with traffic.  Driving down Marine Parade feels like being on a holiday in a coastal resort like Brighton.”

Soon after his start at EIT, the computing school began extending its programme offerings.  Steve helped establish the Bachelor of Information Systems launched in 1997 and was appointed the degree’s programme coordinator.

“In the 1990s, the teachers were expected to improve their qualifications,” he recalls.  “Most went on to gain master and doctorate degrees.”  At the time of his retirement in December there were six staff holding PhDs in the computing school – “when I was employed by EIT there was only one on campus”.

EIT’s first staff member to receive both the CEO’s Award for Academic Excellence and the CEO’s Award for Research Excellence, Steve was appointed assistant Head of School Computing in 2008 and Head of School the following year.

He was made a Fellow of CITRENZ (Centre for Information Technology Education and Research New Zealand) last year, recognising his contribution to IT education and research.

Leaving EIT with an impressive legacy, Steve now plans to travel with Shirley – “we are lucky enough to have family with homes in some of the UK’s loveliest locations,” he says.

Rebekah, meanwhile, is gearing up for the challenges of her expanded role.

“The computing school has a great reputation in regards to its programmes, lecturers and research,” she says, “so I am really looking forward to getting to know and working with the school.”

Both schools have many similarities, she points out, “so there is the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences.”

The business school is currently developing a new suite of programmes for delivery in 2017.

“That presents a really exciting opportunity to review how we are doing things and how we can better support students to succeed.”

A committed life-long learner, Rebekah recently completed her final paper for a Master in Management degree.