He is also an honorary professor at the Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON), Nelson Mandela University, of which he was a founding member.
Notably, he was the founding director of the Johannesburg Institute for Advanced Study (JIAS) and acting vice-rector for academic affairs and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
Born in Duiwelskloof (now Modjadjiskloof), he matriculated from Capricorn High School in 1965 and went on to read for a Bachelor of Arts and thereafter an honours degree in international relations at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), South Africa.
[1] Vale started his career as a financial journalist in 1971; whereafter, he moved into academia and served as the assistant director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).
[1] Vale chaired the Academy Advisory Board of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) between 2011 and 2016, and the ASSAf Standing Committee on the Humanities.
The citation reads: "In a five-decade career, Vale has significantly contributed to Political Science, International Relations, Social Theory and African Studies.
Vale’s research interests included social thought, intellectual traditions, the future and politics of higher education and the history of International Relations.