From junior researcher to associate researcher professor

Michelline NawatisesGert Van Rooy was born in Windhoek during the time of the forced removals and spend a greater part of his childhood in Katutura and Khomasdal. He finished his secondary education at Ella du Plessis High School in Khomasdal, and spent some time in the job market. Having realised that there is an urge for betterment in his life he enrolled for his undergraduate studies at the University of the Western Cape. After completion of his undergraduate studies, he continued at the same university and finished his post-graduate degree in history. He joined the old Academy in 1991, and when the University of Namibia was officially established in 1992 their department became part of the research arm of the new University. “I became part and parcel of the many evolutions that happen in our department and it became a pleasure to see how the research arm of the UNIVERSITY is going from strength to strength,” Van Rooy says.Van Rooy’s growth was simultaneous with the growth of the division. When he joined firstly, his job title was junior researcher. As this was now purely an academic institution, growth was measured in terms of qualifications. He enrolled for his Master of Arts (MA) degree at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom (UK) and upon completion of his studies, returned back to the institution. Soon thereafter he was promoted to a researcher. After serving the required years in this position he was again promoted to senior researcher. As the saying goes, the sky is the limit so Gert Van Rooy did not stop at his last qualification but enrolled for his PhD at the University of Namibia. In 2018 he graduated with a PhD in sociology. Armed with this latest qualification and looking for enrichment in his academic life he applied for a promotion and in 2019 he was promoted to associate researcher professor. His current title at the University now is associate research professor, coming with new responsibilities such as conducting and promoting research on socio-economic aspects of life and development to name a few. His daily task does not allow him to follow a strict office routine but is interchangeable. On a good day, he might spend most of the day drafting a research report. On another day he might be busy doing a literature review for a possible research study and thereafter draft a research proposal. In between his daily routine there as also times that he might attend meetings representing the division and or the university. Gert van Rooy’s biggest achievement in the organisation is his publication list of referred articles with a current h-index of 9 listed in Scopus. Apart from his publication record he also served as head of department for the Social Sciences Division at the Multidisciplinary Research Centre. He adds that his dream is to write a briefing on how to conduct research in a multilingual society such as Namibia before he leaves the university.“The journey of research is a never-ending journey every day brings new challenges and it is my task to investigate, and manage these challenges in offering solution for policy direction and social upliftment,” he concludes.

From junior researcher to associate researcher professor

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Republikein 2025-05-14

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From junior researcher to associate researcher professor

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