An 80-year-old man earns a PhD in Engineering Management after returning to school after retirement.
AFRICA | An 80-year-old man earns a PhD in Engineering Management after returning to school after retirement.
At the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, Robert Jefferey, an extraordinary 80-year-old retiree, received a doctorate in engineering management. In 2023, he became the university’s oldest graduate thanks to his outstanding accomplishment.
After being rendered wheelchair-bound by peripheral neuropathy, a disorder that affects the nerves, Robert, a retired businessman and grandfather of eight, made the decision to seek a PhD. He nevertheless looked for a project that would provide him with a feeling of direction.
“Having a purpose is essential, and I wanted a subject that would push me and benefit all South Africans, especially the poor and jobless,” he stated.
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Robert added that he wanted to educate people about the energy industry, which is why he picked Engineering Management.
“After years of working on energy, I think we make some mistakes. Since I have accumulated a great deal of knowledge and information over the years, I should write it down. “I believed that earning a doctorate would be beneficial,” he stated.
He is a scholar with a background in education from several colleges throughout the globe. Robert has a master’s degree in economics from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics and statistics from Wits University in South Africa.
Additionally, he graduated from the University of South Africa with a Master of Business Leadership. According to Robert, he had originally intended to become a teacher but changed his mind after a year of teaching.
“My first plan was to pursue a career in education. After completing what was then known as a Teachers Higher Diploma (TTHD) upon my return from Cambridge, I taught for a year before starting a job at a financial institution,” he stated.
Robert’s career spans decades, during which he has served as the financial director and managing director of large corporations, an economic analyst and counselor to SARB, a construction and energy appraisal professional, and a participant in mergers, acquisitions, and capital projects across a range of industries.
He has worked as an independent energy and economic consultant for the past seven years. He gave his family, especially his wife, credit for helping him through his academic career, especially while he dealt with his illness.
Considering my age, my wife, Carol Ann, and kids have provided me with excellent support throughout my academic career. They’ve encouraged me, supported me, and pushed me to succeed,” he stated.
Robert is confined to a wheelchair and has had to give up his active lifestyle due to peripheral neuropathy, which has left him unable to move his legs. He persisted and finished his PhD thesis in four years in spite of these challenges.
His thesis evaluated the most effective approaches for expanding South Africa’s electrical resources through an independent economic study of the nation’s electricity producing sector.
He also looked at how South Africa’s economic growth is affected by a stable power supply, whether it comes from renewable or fossil resources.
In the future, Robert intends to devote more time to his love of photography and keep researching South Africa’s energy development.
