In the past, professors and educators were seen as information sources; students would attend lectures to learn about stuff. To Dr. Bob Heere, our guest today, the role of the professor has (or should have) changed; students have access to information in the palm of their hands. He believes that students don’t need the educators to tell them the story but to help them make sense of it and apply it to the real world. 

Dr. Bob Heere is a Professor & Director of Sport Management at the University of North Texas. He was born in the Netherlands, where he got a Masters’ degree in International Affairs from the University of Amsterdam. Dr. Bob spent his entire life in the academic space, whether as a Lecturer, Researcher, Knowledge manager, or Ph.D. Program Director. In 2005, he got his Ph.D. in Sport Management from Florida State University, and he actually lives in Texas. 

In this episode, we look at the higher education system from a different perspective. Dr. Bob offers his unique point of view on the approach to lecturing, diversity, the creation of esports degrees, and paid internships. We also talk about the type of education students get from the University of North Texas, where Dr. Bob lectures, and more. 

Connect with Dr. Bob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobheere/

or send him an email at: bob.heere@unt.edu

Full Episode Breakdown:

4:13 – Dr. Marc introduces today’s guest, Bob Heere.

8:13 – Dr. Marc and Dr. Bob talk about how different it was lecturing last Spring in the middle of the pandemic and the changes online teaching brought.

12:46 – Dr. Bob shares a bit of his approach to teaching, instilling students to participate, encouraging discussions about any topic, and teaching them not to be too ingrained in their ideas and less emotional about them.

17:34 – Dr. Marc and Dr. Bob discuss the new era of teaching, where professors are not required anymore to be the ones who tell the stories.

23:17 – Building the plane as it flies. Dr. Bob talks about how he sometimes feels about teaching about gaming and esports.

27:14 – Dr. Marc and Dr. Bob analyze the need for an esports degree.

33:35 – Dr. Bob talks about the type of education and students at the University of North Texas.

38:19 – I don’t recruit; I do the opposite. Dr. Bob talks about how he prepares students for the professional world. 

42:37 – Dr. Marc and Dr. Bob talk about diversity and the healthier and more productive ways of representation. 

46:14 – Dr. Bob shares his point of view on how he pictures the future of minorities in the academic space in the following years.