To the next 150 years
Professor Cheryl de la Rey led the University of Pretoria, South Africa’s largest university, for almost 10 years before moving to Ōtautahi to take up the top job as Tumu Whakarae | Vice-Chancellor of Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | the University of Canterbury (UC) in 2019.
She was known for her visionary, strategic thinking, which she developed as she moved up the academic ranks to Professor of Psychology, followed by 18 years of higher education leadership.
These skills were evident when soon after taking up her new role, she initiated a new Strategic Vision to focus the university’s 4000 academics and professional staff on priorities for the decade 2020 to 2030.
“Central to our vision is strengthening our relationships with local leaders and communities through our leadership and engagement in cultural and social domains, alongside the more traditional educational and economic realms,” Professor De la Rey says.
The region’s second-largest employer, UC, is key to Waitaha Canterbury’s social inclusiveness, economic prosperity, and success, which was underlined in an independent Community Impact Report released in March.
“It’s clear from the report that UC is a pillar of our community. As a locally engaged university, we go above and beyond to connect with our communities and to support and build the capabilities of the region.”
The university’s new Te Kakau a Māui scholarships are an outstanding example of an innovative new way to capture and develop local potential. The scholarships were offered to 150 students from lower decile South Island schools and cover undergraduate course fees for those who are keen to make a difference in their communities. Another 150 scholarships are available for 2024.
“I was delighted to welcome the first 150 recipients of this landmark scholarship. They begin their degrees with comprehensive, wrap-around pastoral support to ensure they have the resources to succeed, now and into what I am sure will be very bright futures,” Professor De la Rey says.
The scholarships echo UC’s founding commitment to accessible education and celebrate its 150th anniversary with the conviction that education should be available to all who seek it.
The community and the university are more in synch than ever, with the university nurturing start-ups, providing creative inspiration, producing world-class research and, of course, preparing the next generation to make a difference in the world under Professor De la Rey’s guidance.
Working more closely with mana whenua has resulted in positive outcomes, including Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and UC establishing an Office of Treaty Partnership, working directly with the Vice-Chancellor to provide strong Māori academic leadership on a pan-university basis.
“This is a journey the University of Canterbury began a long time ago. Building a strong relationship with Ngāi Tūāhuriri and Ngāi Tahu is fundamental to continuing our bicultural journey and engaging our Māori community,” Professor De la Rey says.
With 80 per cent of people who responded to a Christchurch City Council survey saying UC was important to them, UC’s future looks to be more connected and more engaged than ever.