- Professor George Siemens
- Dr Lilia Cheniti Belcadhi
- Professor Paul Tiyambe Zeleza
- Jennifer Glennie
- Professor Romeela Mohee
- Dr Christine I Ofulue
- Professor Uchenna Udeani
- Dr Roze Phillips
- Professor Margaret F. Omidire
- Professor Piera Biccard
- Dr Anitia Lubbe
- Dr Denzil Chetty
- Dr Jacqueline Batchelor
- Dr Sibongile Similane-Mnisi
- Mr Hugo van der Walt
- Ms Thobeka Msengana
Open Distance and eLearning Conference
Mr Hugo van der Walt
Mr Hugo van der Walt
ODeL Researcher, Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL) / Institutional Intelligence, College of Education, Unisa
Mr. van der Walt is a Research Psychologist registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) currently employed as an ODeL Researcher at the Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL) at Unisa. Additionally, he serves as an active talent management candidate in the Department of Institutional Intelligence Unisa, specializing in ODeL staff occupational health and wellness. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology exploring the factors related to the experience of the Impostor Phenomenon in ODeL academics.
His research focuses on ODeL staff health and wellness, staff capacity development, and organizational behaviour studies. Having obtained a Master's degree in Research Psychology, Mr. van der Walt is actively involved in various projects within the realm of ODeL organisational behaviour. These projects encompass areas such as staff burnout levels, workplace toxicity, bullying and institutional distrust, staff health and wellness utilization, food and home insecurities among ODeL staff and ODeL staff retention policy reviews. As an emerging researcher who has showcased his work on both local and international platforms, he also holds key roles within the academic community, serving as a member of the CEDU Ethical Clearance Committee and a reviewer for the International Journal of Qualitative Methods (IJQM). Furthermore, he spearheads institutional-wide projects, including the Institutional ODeL Staff Health and Wellness portfolio in the Department of Institutional Research at Unisa and is an active team member of Developing an integrated strategy of resilience, sense of belonging and wellbeing within Teaching and Learning context of Unisa.
Recognizing the continuous development of ODeL, the increasing student numbers, recent socio-economic challenges, and the impact of the 4th industrial revolution on distance education, he firmly believes that mental health and wellness among ODeL staff are paramount in their ability to effectively serve students and colleagues alike. With a focus on creating a supportive environment, he envisions ODeL staff being equipped to navigate the demands of their profession while prioritizing their own mental health and wellness.