From the outset, Prof. Julialet Rens, a professor in the Faculty of Education at the North-West University (NWU), grounded her narrative in gratitude, drawing on Psalm 16:6 and acknowledging the “beautiful inheritance” she believes she has received – an inheritance of opportunity, guidance and the ability to contribute meaningfully to others. This reflection set the tone for a heartfelt and inspiring inaugural lecture delivered on 18 November 2025. 

Her lecture, titled “Moving in, moving through, moving beyond: educational transitions and the values that shape our journey”, unfolded as a woven story of personal experience and professional evolution. Delivered in the faculty’s 90th anniversary year and at the beginning of her 60th year of life, the address offered an intimate look into the values, relationships and transitions that shaped her more than 30-year journey at the university. 

A tribute to family, mentors and beginnings 

Prof. Rens dedicated the evening to her late parents, sharing anecdotes that blended humour and nostalgia. Growing up in a parsonage meant growing up in an environment where ordinary people carried extraordinary kindness and resilience. She also expressed how deeply she missed her children, who are in New Zealand, adding a tender emotional thread to her address. 

Her academic beginnings were modest. She started out as a professional assistant and later became a professional research assistant. She credited mentors such as Prof. Hannes van der Walt , Prof. Dewey de Wet as well as prof Nic Vreken for guiding her into academia and encouraging her intellectual growth. Their influence supported her transition into a permanent lecturing position in 1994 and laid the groundwork for her academic career. 

Finding purpose through values 

At the heart of Prof. Rens’s career lies a sustained commitment to understanding values and how they are prioritised, how they shift over time, and how they influence behaviour, discipline and identity. Her PhD on values in education sparked a series of major projects involving students, learners and educators. These studies revealed insights such as the “halo effect”, where individuals viewed themselves as highly principled but held a very different view of their peers. 

This work informed the development of the NWU peer helper programme, influenced discipline strategies in schools, and encouraged prospective teachers to examine the role of values in their own practice. For her, values are not abstract concepts but living principles that guide decision-making and relationships. 

Her move to the Life Orientation subject group opened new opportunities to merge her research with practical teacher training. It allowed her to embrace one of her guiding philosophies: “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” She spoke warmly of the colleagues whose collaboration enriched her work and strengthened her belief in teamwork, tolerance and mutual learning. 

Her involvement as residence mother and first-year orientation facilitator added another human dimension to her career. Training peer helpers and supporting students through early transitions revealed the transformative potential of education. 

Looking outward: justice, inclusion and global collaboration 

In her current work in the COMBER research unit, Prof. Rens focuses on educational transitions affected by social inequalities. Projects examining the move from Grade 7 to 8, the experiences of learners with special educational needs, and the transition from school to the world of work reflect her enduring commitment to supporting learners at key moments of change. 

Her international collaborations with partners in Sweden, Belgium, Ecuador, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Cambodia demonstrate her passion for promoting inclusion and diversity. These programmes aim to equip teacher trainers with the tools to build culturally responsive and socially just educational environments across continents. 

A life of transitions and purpose 

Closing her lecture, she reflected on the transitions that have shaped her own identity. These include the move from administration to academia, the move from the Vaal Triangle Campus to Potchefstroom, the path from junior lecturer to senior academic, and the shift from leadership roles back to teaching and research. 

“These transitions are woven into who I am,” she said. 

Prof Rens’s inaugural lecture became a celebration of a life shaped by gratitude, values and the people who walked alongside her. It was a story told with sincerity, humility and purpose.