Jo-Anne Vorster

Jo-Anne Vorster is a Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. With over two decades of experience in Academic Development since 1992, she serves as course coordinator for the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PG Dip HE) and collaborates with Lynn Quinn on a specialized version of this program for academic developers since 2011.

Her research examines the complex interplay between institutional structures (national, institutional, departmental and disciplinary), culture(s), lecturer agency, and curriculum development. She investigates how academics' understanding of knowledge relates to disciplinary structures and academic identity formation, with particular focus on staff development and the induction of new academics into higher education.

Vorster's publications demonstrate a strong commitment to addressing transformation challenges in South African universities, particularly following the 2015 student protests. Her work emphasizes the need for academic developers to engage in courageous conversations about knowledge production, decolonization, and creating inclusive university spaces where all students feel they belong.

As a supervisor, Vorster guides postgraduate students exploring disciplinary knowledge structures and student learning, curricula and pedagogies for professional programs, and academic identities. She has been instrumental in developing programs to nurture black academics and address historical inequities in South African higher education.