GEORGE NEWS - Dr Roselien Jonkers, a senior lecturer at the Western Cape College of Nursing (WCCN), received her PhD degree from the University of South Africa (Unisa) during a graduation ceremony on Monday 12 October.
It is a milestone that marks the culmination of years of research and dedication to the advancement of higher education and nursing science in South Africa, according to her study advisor at Unisa, Prof Simangele Shakwane.
“Jonkers has long focused her career on educational excellence. Her doctoral research at Unisa directly addresses the lived experiences, systemic hurdles and institutional support structures crucial for first-generation university students.”
Shakwane said in the South African landscape, first-generation students - those who are the first in their families to attend university - face unique socio-economic and academic culture shocks.
“Jonkers’ thesis provides a vital framework for how higher education institutions can transition these students from merely accessing university to successfully graduating. Her work highlights that academic development is not just about curriculum, but about building holistic support systems that validate the diverse backgrounds of these pioneering scholars.”
Long before earning the title of doctor, Jonkers was a pillar in regional nursing education. She is based in the Garden Route at the WCCN George Campus, and has spent years training the next generation of frontline medical professionals.
Her previous research has promoted maternal health - such as evaluating midwives’ implementation of the Basic Antenatal Care (Banc) approach in the Central Karoo District as well as co-authoring public health papers on the early detection of cardiometabolic and renal risks.
Her PhD is focused on student development and was a natural evolution of her life’s work of empowering individuals to overcome structural barriers.
The Jonkers family is used to high academic success in South Africa. Roselien is married to Jewel Jonkers, the district director of education for the Eden and Central Karoo Education District.
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