Prof Ronnie Donaldson

Ronnie Donaldson (PhD) was appointed as professor in the Department Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Stellenbosch in 2007. He previously worked at the University of the North, Vista University (Mamelodi Campus) and UWC. He served as head of department at Vista, UWC and Stellenbosch in the past. He specialises in urban and tourism studies and has a C1 NRF rating (2018-2023).

With over 25 years experience as a researcher, he has published a sole authored book on small town tourism in South Africa (2018), four co-edited books (the most recent focussing on the origin and growth of geography at universities in South Africa), just over 100 academic journal and chapter articles,  and numerous consultancy and policy reports for various government institutions. The findings of the consultancy research are contributing to the shaping of spatial (e.g. small town growth potential in the Western Cape study), tourism (business tourism strategy for Stellenbosch) and urban development (assessment of the urban renewal programme of Cape Town, cultural mapping) policies at various levels of government. He serves on a number of national academic and research committees reviewing research proposals, academic profiles and standards, and also served as councillor on the South African Geographical Society in the past.  His current research interests are culture-led urban regeneration and island geographies.