Little African Scientist addressing learners’ urgent science needs
Foundation-level learners in the country are not exposed nearly enough to science and this should urgently be addressed. Research has found that, by the time children in rural South African schools reach Grade 3, they are already three years behind their peers in most other countries. This gap grows as they progress through school - to the…
Eric is a man on a mission: to bring change to the African continent
> His plan of action? To actively take part in impactful discussions, to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way, to be involved in his community, and above all, to never stop acquiring new knowledge. This alumnus of the North-West University (NWU) is the head of corporate, private and diaspora banking at Procredit Bank in…
The link between climate change and money
The North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a climate change public lecture on its campus in Potchefstroom. The issue on climate change was looked at from a legal, environmental science, engineering and a financial perspective.Dr Michelle Barnard who is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Ncobile Nkosi, a social-environmental…
NWU’s top researchers are a hard act to follow
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences again took top honours at this year’s Excellence in Research Awards on 27 October. The faculty won the titles of Most Productive Senior Researcher and Most Productive Junior Researcher, just as they did last year. Many outstanding staff members from other…
NWU astrophysicist selected as a member of ASSAF
Prof Rodney Medupe, an astrophysicist and professor on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, was recently selected and inaugurated as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). He was inaugurated alongside 40 other leading scientists during ASSAf’s annual awards ceremony on 11 October 2017. ASSAf’s core…
NWU and UNHCR host international symposium on statelessness The Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is hosting an international symposium o
The Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is hosting an international symposium on The International Human Right to a Nationality, the Prevention of Statelessness and the Protection of Stateless Individuals in the 21st Century from…
Five inaugural lectures in five months at NWU Health Sciences
An inaugural lecture is an once-in-a-lifetime experience for an academic, but at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, five of these unique events have taken place in the space of just five months. Between May and September 2017, five of the faculty’s professors stepped up to the podium, one by one, and delivered…
Rugby World Cup 2023: Don’t wait SA, start preparing now
World Rugby has announced that South Africa is their preferred choice to host the IRB 2023 Rugby World Cup. South Africa beat France as well as Ireland, and although an official vote will take place on 15 November, the independent World Rugby’s recommendation – a body comprised of rugby experts, business and commercial analysts – should hold…
Protea star appointed NWU coach
Former Protea star and North-West University (NWU) stalwart, Elsunet du Plessis, has been appointed as the new NWU netball coach starting on 1 January 2018. Elsunet takes over the Potchefstroom-based team’s reins from Dorette Badenhorst. “After an extensive consultation process Elsunet proved to be the best possible candidate to take our club…
Teachers are real-life heroes – NWU Alumni
“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” With these words by American author Guy Kawasaki in mind, the Alumni Office of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark hosted its first get-together for educators earlier in the year. According to Zanele Ngobese, the campus’s alumni…
NWU at the forefront of community research
Community research is undergoing a major shift in South Africa, and the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of the changes. Where previously the emphasis was on working on philanthropic projects in communities, community research now uses scientifically based methods to tackle critical community challenges. “We are looking at the…
AUTHeR: Community-based research with a difference
The research activities of the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom are focused on bio-psychosocial health and specifically on preventing illness, maintaining and promoting health and facilitating quality health systems. AUTHeR supports the World Health…
NWU researchers honoured by ASSAf
Two researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) were honoured for their outstanding research by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). Prof Alta Schutte and Prof Marius Smuts were recently elected as members of ASSAf. New members are elected annually in recognition of their academic achievements…
NWU awards honorary doctorate for work in Afrikaans
The North-West University (NWU) has awarded an honorary doctorate to a seasoned and experienced academic who has made an outstanding contribution towards promoting Afrikaans in the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Belgium). Prof Ena Jansen, who has lived permanently in Amsterdam since 2002, was honoured for her enormous contribution towards…
Polish expert in supply chain management visits NWU
Sebastian Kot regards South Africa as not only one of the most beautiful countries he has visited thus far, but also as a valued destination for collaborative research. During a recent visit to sunny South Africa it was not only the scenic environment, the local cuisine or the friendly people that left Sebastian Kot in awe, but also the…
Optentia-navorsing begin by die gemeenskap
Die 1990’s-idee van “gee sielkunde weg” het in 2017 by Optentia lewe gekry met navorsing wat hier gedoen word met die doel om “wetenskap weg te gee”. Vir die Optentia-navorsingsfokusarea is die gemeenskap die beginpunt van enige navorsingsprojek. “By Optentia doen ons navorsing saam met die gemeenskap,” sê die direkteur, prof Ian Rothmann.…
Optentia research starts with the community
The 1990s concept of “giving psychology away” has come to life at Optentia in 2017 where research is being done with the purpose of “giving science away”. For the Optentia research focus area, the community is the starting point for any research project. “At Optentia, we do research together with the community,” says its director, Prof Ian…
Capacitating small-scale farmers is cattle project’s purpose
A 10-year-old partnership between the North-West University (NWU), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is going strong, continuing to produce good results for small-scale farmers. Launched in 2007, the North West Nguni Cattle Development Project is the province’s contribution to the…
Sharpeville 2020: aksienavorsing inspireer verandering ten goede
Meer as 55 jaar na die Sharpeville-slagting bloei die township steeds, en die jeug ly onder die gevolge daarvan. So sê prof Danie Meyer, medeprofessor in die Fakulteit Ekonomiese en Bestuurswetenskappe aan die Noordwes-Universiteit (NWU) se kampus in Vanderbijlpark. Danie staan aan die hoof van die Sharpeville 2020-ontwikkelingsplanintervensie…