David Derichs receives the prestigious Teacher of the Year award 2025

Senior University Lecturer David Derichs receives the prestigious teaching award by KY (association for business students at Aalto University) in 2025.

According to the student feedback, Senior University Lecturer of Accounting David Derichs encourages students to participate but does not force anybody to do so. His cases (on course Managing Uncertainty Through Cost Accounting and Financial Planning) are made of a lot of effort, for example one of the cases is a high-quality VR case. Additionally, he has (quite) a lot of industry experience, which really brings more practical views to his teaching.

The students say that David’s invigorating teaching is of high quality, so interesting and inspiring, and it enhances learning exceptionally well! He updates his course and teaching methods to match the working life requirements. His lectures are easy to follow and understand. David motivates his students with realism but with hope as well. Just overall a very good teacher!

The Teacher of the Year nomination was announced in the KY’s 114^th Annual Ball held at Pikku-Finlandia on 1 March 2025.

Warm congratulations, David! 

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Please find below David’s speech he gave in the Ball:

Good afternoon, everyone,

First of all, let me say how deeply honored I am to receive this award. I’ve been fortunate enough to receive a few recognitions in my career—some from faculty committees and even from business publications like Kauppalehti, but I have to say that none of those can compare to being recognized by you, the actual learners, the students. What does other faculty even know about how I teach? And after all, who knows my work better than those who experience it directly? Your endorsement means more to me than any external recognition ever could.

We, as educators, share a mission at Aalto Business School: to support you in becoming what our strategic jargon labels “game changers”. That’s not just a buzzword. It’s about having a positive impact on our society—making things better, in whatever field or venture you choose. It’s a profound privilege to be part of that journey here at Aalto, an institution that values collaboration, creativity, and real-world influence.

To put this mission to life in my own teaching, I firmly believe in cultivating independent and reflective learners. I try to design my courses and activities with the goal of encouraging you to think critically, question assumptions, and take ownership of your education. That means I place a lot of responsibility on you—but I also trust in your ability to rise to the challenge. And time and again, you prove that trust is well-placed. The capacity you show here at Aalto to engage with complex problems, to think outside the box, and to collaborate across disciplines and cultures truly sets you apart.

I’ve had the pleasure of teaching in many contexts around the world—across Europe in places, and as far afield as Asia. Through these experiences, I’ve seen a wide spectrum of students, learning styles, and institutional cultures. But I can say without hesitation that you Aalto students stand out. You embody the curiosity, resilience, and breathe life into our shared “game changer” mission. It’s amazing to see how quickly you adapt to new ideas, challenge my approaches, and turn concepts into meaningful actions.

What I’m most proud of, though, is being part of a community that embraces the future with optimism and responsibility. We’re not just crunching numbers or memorizing theories; we’re crafting new solutions, forging networks, and asking ourselves what kind of impact we can have on the wider world. My role in that process is just one piece of the puzzle—but being recognized by you for playing that part well is incredibly fulfilling.

Thank you for this award. Thank you for your enthusiasm, your hard work, and the countless ways you challenge me to keep learning and growing. It is truly the best prize I could ever wish for. Let’s keep working together to shape a better tomorrow—and let’s continue to learn, innovate, and challenge each other along the way.

Congratulations to all of you on your own achievements and thank you once again for this incredible honor. I look forward to seeing the amazing things you’ll do next.

Thank you.