Vhothusa Edward Matahela

Professor Vhothusa Edward Matahela is an Associate Professor in Health Sciences Education at the University of South Africa’s Department of Health Studies. He holds a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (DLitt et Phil) in Health Studies from the University of South Africa (2016–2019), with a thesis titled *Guidelines for the Facilitation of Self-Leadership in Nurse Educators*. Prior to his doctoral studies, he earned a *Magister Curationis (MCur) in Nursing Education* from the University of Johannesburg (2010–2013), where his full dissertation examined Factors Leading to the Resignation of Nurse Educators at a Johannesburg Nursing College. His academic foundation in nursing education began with a Further National Higher Diploma in Nursing Education from the University of Johannesburg (2007), building upon his initial *Diploma in Nursing (General, Psychiatric & Community) and Midwifery from C.H. Baragwanath Nursing College (2000–2003).

Expanding his expertise beyond nursing education, Professor Matahela completed a *Postgraduate Diploma in Management (cum laude)* at North-West University in 2022. He is recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Knowledge and Information Systems Management (KISM) at Stellenbosch University (2023–2024), demonstrating his commitment to integrating management and technological advancements into nursing education and research.

Before joining academia full-time in March 2024, Professor Matahela served as the Deputy Director of Nursing Education and Training at the National Department of Health in Pretoria, South Africa. His research interests focus on nurse educator retention, self-leadership, policy reforms, and the integration of Ubuntu philosophy into nursing education. He has published extensively on these topics, contributing to the scholarly discourse on decolonizing nursing education and developing national policies for nursing education and training in South Africa.