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Prof RW Pretorius - Retired (Honorary Professor)

Associate Professor | College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
School of Ecological and Human Sustainability | Department: Geography

Email: pretorw@unisa.ac.za

  • PhD Geography (Unisa, 2017)
  • MBL (Unisa, 2000)
  • MSc (Geography; UP, 1982)
  • BSc (Hons – Geography; UP) (Cum laude)
  • BSc (Majoring in Geography and Mathematics; UP)

  • Sustainable development
  • Open distance e-learning
  • Geograhy education

  • Education for sustainable development
  • Sustainability in higher education
  • Teacing and learning of the SDGs

Books

  • Brandli, L., Dalla Rosa, F., Pretorius R., Avila, L., & Leal Filho, W. (Eds), 2025, The Contribution of Life Cycle Analyses and Circular Economy to the Sustainable Development Goals.  (“World Sustainability Series”).  Springer, Cham. (390 pp)
  • Abubakar, I.R., da Silva, I., Pretorius, R., & Tarabieh, K. (Eds.), 2024, SDGs in Africa and the Middle East Region. (Part of the series: “Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives”). Springer, Cham. (1596 pp)
  • Leal Filho W., Pretorius R., de Sousa L.O. (Eds) 2021, Sustainable Development in Africa: Fostering Sustainability in one of the World’s Most Promising Continents. (“World Sustainability Series”) Springer, Cham. (741 pp)
  • Leal Filho, W., Salvia, A.L., Brandli, L.L., Azeiteiro, U., & Pretorius, R. (Eds.), 2021, Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. (“World Sustainability Series”).  Springer, Cham. (560 pp)

Book chapters

  • Pretorius, R.W., Nicolau, M.D., Sibiya, L., Kom, Z., & Adriaanse, L., 2025, “Life cycle assessment, circular economy, and sustainable development in the context of Africa’s major regions: A reflective review of research contributions – 2015 to 2023”. Chapter in Brandli, L., Leal Filho, W., Pretorius, R.W., Dalla Rosa, F., & Avila, L. (Eds.) The Contribution of Life Cycle Analyses and Circular Economy to the Sustainable Development Goals. (“World Sustainability Series”) Springer, Cham.
  • Pretorius, R.W., 2021, “An exploration of interdisciplinary settings as intellectual spaces for sustainability in higher education”. Chapter in Leal Filho, W.  et al. (Eds.) “Teaching Sustainable Development”.  Edgar Elgar, London. (389-495)
  • Pretorius, R.W., 2021, Chapter on South Africa, in McCowan, T. et al. (Eds.) The Role of Universities and their Leaders facing the Grand Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainability.  Global University Leaders Council. (92-103)
  • Pretorius, R.W., 2021, An exploration of interdisciplinary settings as intellectual spaces for sustainability in higher education, Chapter (389-405) in Leal Filho, W. et al. (Eds.) “Teaching Sustainable Development”. Edgar Elgar, London.
  • Pretorius, R.W., 2021, Chapter 4- South Africa, Chapter (92-103) in McCowan, T. et al. (Eds.) “The Role of Universities and their Leaders facing the Grand Challenges of Climate Change and Sustainability. Global University Leaders Council, Hamburg.
  • Leal Filho W., de Sousa L.O., Pretorius R. 2021. Future Prospects of Sustainable Development in Africa, Chapter (733-741) in Leal Filho W., Pretorius R., de Sousa L.O. (Eds.) Sustainable Development in Africa.  Springer, Cham.
  • Pretorius, R.W. and Nicolau, M.D., 2020, Empowering communities to drive sustainable development: Reflections on experiences from rural South Africa, Chapter (529-545) in Leal Filho, W. et al (Eds.) “Universities and Sustainable Communities: meeting the goals of the Agenda 2030”. Springer, Cham.
  • Wilson, G.D. and Pretorius, R.W., 2020. “Adding value to open and distance learning programmes in nature conservation through sustainability related work-integrated learning”, Chapter  (449-469) in Leal Filho, W. et al (Eds.) “Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals”. Springer, Cham.
  • Pretorius, R.W, 2019, “Towards an integrated disciplinary narrative and an enhanced role for Geography in Education for Sustainability:  Reflections on South African Higher Education”, Chapter (291-311) in Leal Filho, W. and Consorte-McCrea, A. (Eds.) Sustainability and Humanities: linking social values, theology and spirituality towards sustainability. (World Sustainability Series). Springer, Cham.
  • Nicolau, M.D., Pretorius, R.W., De Jager, A.E. and Lombard, A., 2018, “Empowerment for sustainability in a community context: Lifelong learning and story of the Big 5 Community Tourism Forum, Koffiekraal/Brakkuil (South Africa)”, Chapter (29-44) in Leal Filho, W, Mifsud, M. and Pace, P. (Eds.) Handbook of Lifelong Learning for Sustainable Development. (World Sustainability Series). Springer, New York.
  • Pretorius, R.W, 2018, “Towards an integrated disciplinary narrative and an enhanced role for Geography in Education for Sustainability:  Reflections on South African Higher Education”, Chapter in Leal Filho, W. and Consorte-McCrea, A. (Eds.) Sustainability and Humanities: linking social values, theology and spirituality towards sustainability. (World Sustainability Series). Springer, New York. (In press)
  • Wilson, G.D. and Pretorius, R.W., 2017,  “Utilising work-integrated learning to enhance student participation and engagement in sustainability issues in open and distance learning”, Chapter (245-257) in Leal Filho, W., Skanavis, C., Do Paço, A., Rodgers, J., Kuznetsova, O and Castro, P. (Eds.) Handbook of Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development in Higher Education, Vol 2 (World Sustainability Series). Springer, New York.

  • Carow, S., & Pretorius, R., 2025, “The spatiality of geography assessment questions: a case study of selected South African universities”, South African Geographical Journal, 107(3), 319-339.
  • Leal Filho, W., Ribeiro, P. C. C., Mazutti, J., Lange Salvia, A., Bonato Marcolin, C., Lima Silva Borsatto, J. M., Sharifi, A., Sierra, J., Luetz, J.,  Pretorius, R., & Viera Trevisan, L., 2024, "Using artificial intelligence to implement the UN sustainable development goals at higher education institutions", International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 1-20.
  • Carow, S., & Pretorius, R., 2024, "A critical reflection on the inclusion of spatial thinking in undergraduate Geography modules: A case study of selected South African universities", Journal of Geography Education in Africa, 7, 17-40.
  • Leal Filho, W., Wall, T., Salvia, A. L., Vasconcelos, C. R., Abubakar, I. R., Minhas, A., Mifsud, M.,  Kozlova, V., Lovren, V.O., Azadi, H., Sharif, A., Kovaleva, M., LeVasseur,T., Luetz, J., Velazquez, L., Singh, P., Pretorius, R., Mohammed Akib, A.N., Savelyeva, T.,  Brandli, L., Muthu, N., & Lombardi, P., 2024, "The impacts of the COVID-19 lockdowns on the work of academic staff at higher education institutions: an international assessment", Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-27.
  • Leal Filho, W., Trevisan, L. V., Rampasso, I. S., Anholon, R., Dinis, M. A. P., Brandli, L. L., Sierra, J., Salvia, A., Pretorius, R., Nicolau, M., Eustachio, J., & Mazutti, J., 2023, "When the alarm bells ring: Why the UN sustainable development goals may not be achieved by 2030", Journal of Cleaner Production, 407, 137108.
  • Leal Filho, W., Silva, F. F., Salvia, A., Shiel, C., Paço, A., Price, E., Brandli, L., Rampasso, I., Anholon, R., Quelhas, O., & Pretorius, R.W., 2023, "An overview of research trends on sustainability in higher education–an exploratory study", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 24 (5), 1161-1175.
  • Carow, S., Schmitz, P., & Pretorius, R., 2023, "Spatial perspectives on student profiling to inform open distance e-learning (ODeL) in various geographical contexts: a case study from the Global South", Discover Sustainability, 4(1), 28.
  • Wepener, T., & Pretorius, R.W., 2023, "A model of lived experiences and geographical consciousness based on Namibian secondary school learners’ perspectives", International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 1-16.
  • Walter Leal Filho, Amanda Lange Salvia, Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, Mark Mifsud, Hossein Azadi, Ayyoob Sharifi, Todd LeVasseur, Johannes M Luetz, Luis Velazquez, Priyatma Singh, Rudi Pretorius, Noor Adelyna Mohammed Akib, Tamara Savelyeva, Luciana Brandli, Nandhivarman Muthu, & Patrizia Lombardi, 2022, "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Routines of Higher Education Institutions: A Global Perspective", Sustainability, 14 (21), 14105.
  • Pretorius, R.W., Carow, S., Wilson, G. and Schmitz, P., 2021, “Towards best practice in teaching and learning of sustainability related modules requiring real-world engagement in open, distance and e-learning”, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 22 (6), 1316-1335.
  • Pretorius, R.W., Anderson, R.L, Khotoo, A. and Pienaar, R., 2019,  "Creating  a  context for  campus  sustainability  through  teaching  and  learning", International  Journal  of Sustainability in Higher Education, 20 (3), 530-547.
  • Leal Filho, W., Brandli, L., Becker, D.,  Skanavis, C., Kounani, A., Sardif, C., Papaioannidou, D.,  Azeiteiro, U., de Sousa, L., Raath, S., Pretorius, R., Vargas, V.R., Shiel, C, Trencher, G. and  Marans, R., 2018, “Sustainable Development Policies as Indicators and Pre-Conditions for Sustainability Efforts at Universities: fact or fiction?”,  International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 19 (1), 85-113.
  • Leal Filho, W., Guerra, B.A., Mifsud, M. and Pretorius, R.W., 2017, “Universities as Living Labs for sustainable development: A global perspective”, Environmental Scientist 26 (4), 8-15
  • Pretorius, R.W., Lombard, A. and Khotoo, A., 2016, "Adding value to education for sustainability in Africa with inquiry-based approaches in open and distance learning". International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol 17, No 2, 167-187.
  • Leal Filho, W., Chiappetta, J.C. and Pretorius, R.W. (Eds.), 2016, “Evaluation and programme planning in sustainable development”.  Evaluation and program planning,  54, 121-122.

  • Carow, S.P., Pretorius, R.W., & Nicolau, M.D., 2024, “Ruimtelike burgerskap en  bemagtiging van Suid-Afrikaanse Geografie studente om tot bereiking van die volhoubare ontwikkelingsdoelwitte by te dra – ˈn kritiese perspektief”. Paper read at the Annual Symposium of the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, 19-20 September. Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, Pretoria.
  • Leal Filho, W., Eustachio, J., Brandli, L.L., & Pretorius, R.W., 2024, “Digital Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals in higher education teaching– regional aspects in implementing the SDGs from Brazil and South Africa”. Poster presented at Project Leader Conference ‘Educating tomorrow’s leaders to pioneer sustainable development – the role of academia’, 22-24 July, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
  • Pretorius, R.W., 2024, “Interdisciplinary settings as intellectual space for the SDGs in Higher Education”. Keynote paper read at International Student Symposium  on the SDGs and Research-in-Progress Workshop, 18-20 November, Unisa Muckleneuck Campus, Pretoria.
  • Carow, S.P., & Pretorius, R.W., 2023, “A model for improving spatial thinking in undergraduate modules with a spatial focus offered by Geography departments at selected South African universities”. Paper read at the 31st International Cartographic Conference (ICC 2023), 13–18 August. Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Pretorius, R.W., Nicolau, M.D., Sibiya, L.D., Kom, Z. & Adriaanse, L.S., 2023, “Life Cycle Assessment, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Development: A review of achievements and progress in Africa”. Paper read at the Life Cycle Assessment and Circular Economy Conference, 6-7 November. University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, Brazil.
  • Pretorius, R.W., Carow, S., & Schmitz, P., 2022, “Student Profiling Based on Spatial Statistics to Inform Teaching and Learning in an Open, Distance and E-Learning Context”. Paper read at the Unisa 2022 virtual ODeL Conference, All Things Research in Open Distance and e-Learning, 3-5 August. University of South Africa, Pretoria.
  • “Towards greater relevance of Education for Sustainable Development in the context of Higher Education in Africa”, keynote address read at the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) - First Virtual International Conference, 11-13 August  2021. National University of Science and Technology: Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
  • “A critical review of the contribution of African Higher Education Institutions to a more sustainable future”, paper co-authored with M. Nocolau and L. Adriaanse and read at the  simposium Accelerating the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa,5-6 March 2020. University of South Africa: Pretoria.
  • "Adding value to open and distance learning programmes in nature conservation through sustainability related work-integrated learning", paper co-authored with G. Wilson and read at the 4th World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, 28-30 August 2019. Universiti Sains Malaysi: Penang.
  • "Towards an integrated disciplinary narrative and an enhanced role for Geography in Education for Sustainability:  Reflections on South African Higher Education ", paper read at the Symposium on Sustainability and the Humanities: Linking social values, theology and spirituality towards sustainability, 9 November 2017. Canterbury Christchurch Univeristy: Canterbury, UK
  • "Utilising work-integrated learning to enhance student participation and engagement in sustainability issues in open and distance learning ", paper co-authored with G. Wilson at the 3rd World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, 14-16 September 2016. MIT: Cambridge, MA.
  • "Empowerment for sustainability in a community context: Lifelong learning and story of the Big 5 Community Tourism Forum, Koffiekraal/Brakkuil (South Africa)", paper co-authored with M.D. Nicolau, A.E. De Jager & A. Lombard and read at the World Symposium on Lifelong Learning and Sustainable Development, 2-4 March 2016. University of Malta, Malta.
  • "The role of Geography in multi-inter-trans-disciplinary study programmes for environmental sustainability", paper co-authored with U.J Fairhurst and read at the 2nd World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, 5-6 September 2015. Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester
  • "Virtual learning environments for transformation to sustainability: A case study from the South", paper co-authored with M.D. Nicolau, J. Immelman, A.E. de Jager, A. du Plessis and M. Nöthling and read at the 2nd World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities, 5-6 September 2015. Manchester Metropolitan University: Manchester.

  • Board member of the 'Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns'
  • Associate editor:  International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
  • Deputy editor:  Discover Sustainability
  • Member of Editorial Board: Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie
  • Co-editor:  Handbook of Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development  in Higher Education (Springer, 2017)
  • Co-editor:  Universities as Living Labs for Sustainable Development: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (Springer, 2020)
  • Co-editor:  Universities, Sustainability and Society: Supporting the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (Springer, 2021)
  • Co-editor:  Sustainable Development in Africa: Fostering Sustainability in one of the World’s Most Promising Continents (Springer, 2021)
  • Section editor:  Encyclopedia of Sustainability in Higher Education (Springer, 2019)
  • Section editor:  Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education (Springer, 2020)
  • Recipient of Unisa Excellence in Tuition Award: 2009

  • Project leader at Unisa for "Digital Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals in higher education teaching – regional aspects in implementing the SDGs from Brazil and South Africa” (International collaborative project between Unisa, Hamburg University of Applied Science, and University of Passo Fundo) 
  • Collaborator:  “World Study on the Sustainable Development Goals in Higher Education Institutions”. Coordinated by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme and the Hamburg University of Applied Science, with participation by 14 universities worldwide.
  • Collaborator:  International editorial project on the SGDs: “Implementing the UN SDGs – Regional Perspectives”. Deputy editor for Volume 3 on Africa and the Middle East.
  • South African Project Leader: “Digital Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals in higher education teaching – regional aspects in implementing the SDGs from Brazil and South Africa” – Collaboration (2022-2025) between Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Unisa and University of Passo Fundo (Brazil)

  • Deputy editor:  Internatioal Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
  • Section editor:  Discover Sustainability
  • Editorial board member:  Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif vir Natuurwetenskap en Tegnologie