Academic News

Engineering student scoops first prize in optimisation modeling competition

Hendrik Snyman, a fourth-year industrial engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), emerged as the victor in the recent Operations Research Society of South Africa (ORSSA*) optimisation modeling competition.

The competition, which took place during the tutorial session of this year's 52nd annual ORSSA conference, presented…

Legalisation of marijuana: A continuing debate

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Leepile Sehularo addressed the contentious issue of marijuana legalisation in South Africa during his inaugural lecture on 20 September 2023.

Under the theme "Legalisation of marijuana: The debate continues," Prof Sehularo provided a thorough examination of the profound implications of the…

Public lecture examines public leadership and governance in South Africa

The South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) hosted a public lecture on public leadership and governance in contemporary South Africa on 14 September 2023.

This public lecture was also a commemoration of the late Prof Barry Rhulani Hanyane, a lecturer and well-known political analyst at the NWU’s School…

Staff member and student impress at pharmaceutical conference

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Lesetja Legoabe and student Monique Labuschagne had an impressive showing at the 42nd Academy of Pharmaceutical Science of South Africa (APSSA) Conference.

Prof Legoabe from the Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences received the best publication award for his work titled "…

Feather in the cap for NWU emerging researcher

Maricélle Botes, a final-year PhD student at the North-West University`s (NWU’s) Research Unit for Law, Justice and Sustainability, has been honoured with the National Research Foundation’s (NRF’s) Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law category.

The award, presented at a…

Africa’s stomach is empty and the hunger is growing

The continent is ravaged by a host of factors inhibiting food security and is trapped in what a recent report by the World Bank calls “the perfect storm”. Its consequences are disastrous. The Covid-19 pandemic was followed by the war in the Ukraine, which has led to severe food and fertiliser shortages. Now, Africa is in the midst of a tempest…

Master’s student wins 2022 Founder’s Medal

Vickey de Villiers, a master’s student in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), recently received the 2022 Founder’s Medal by the Economic Society of South Africa for the best master’s research paper submitted at a South African university.

Vickey says her master's degree journey was already…

Statistics lecturer dedicates his new book to the underdogs

Dr Piet Ntema, a statistics lecturer on the North-West University's (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, has authored a new book to inspire individuals who have encountered obstacles and setbacks in their lives.

Titled The Sunrise Of The Underdogs, Dr Ntema says the book is dedicated to all those who have been counted out, underestimated and…

Research and Innovation Week shines spotlight on impactful research

The North-West University (NWU) is showcasing its impactful research projects and programmes during its biennial Research and Innovation Week.

This year’s theme is “Research and innovation for sustainable impact”. The event is taking place from 18 to 22 September.

Research and Innovation Week is organised by the NWU’s Research…

NWU to host regional conference on sustainability

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Social Sciences will be hosting the Planetary Utilisation of Sustainability Strategies (PLUS) Southern African Regional Conference from 11 to 13 September 2023 at its Mahikeng Campus.

The theme of the conference is “Land, landscape, local knowledge, and the pursuit of sustainable ontologies…