Professor advocates for ‘pracademics’ in bridging media and academia

By Gofaone Motsamai

When individuals blend professional media experience with academic work, they are “pracademics” who build bridges between the two spheres. This is according to Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe, research professor at the North-West University (NWU), who used the term during his recent inaugural…

Education expert weighs in on North West Department’s mother-tongue education pilot

Mother-tongue education for North West Province school learners is set to be expanded through a pilot project in January 2025. The expert view of Dr Judicial Sebatana of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education is that the provincial government’s plans are a critical step forward for mother-tongue learning. However, some…

NWU researchers publish South Africa's first space biology article

The first space biology article has been published in South Africa, marking an important advancement for African space science – and potentially for the world.

The article, based on a study of young earthworms exposed to various hypergravity conditions for eight days, was authored by researchers at the North-West University (NWU). For…

Inaugural lecture explores the relationship between media, power and society

Prof Dumisani Moyo, executive dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU), delivered his inaugural address on Wednesday, 13 November 2024. The title of his presentation was “Moving the Centre of Media and Communicative Power in the Digital Age: Promise, Pitfalls, and Perspectives”.

Prof Moyo is the former vice-…

North-West University expertise addresses catastrophic teacher shortfall

Thirty-one thousand. That is the conservative estimate of the current teacher shortage in South Africa. Classrooms are overcrowded, with ballooning learner-to-teacher ratios, especially in rural and under-resourced schools. This severely impacts dropout rates and education quality.

This is not where the woes of future learners end. It…

NWU student joined global experts at Korean Conference on Education

Kamogelo Noge, a Master of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (MIKS) student at the North-West University (NWU) Mahikeng Campus, recently embarked on an educational journey to the industrial city of Incheon in South Korea.

Noge was honoured to partake in the Korean Conference on Education, which ran from Monday, 28 October to Friday, 1…

Newly launched book set to revolutionise the aquatic world

The Water Research Group in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM) at the North-West University (NWU) launched Prof Paul Skelton’s new edition of the book titled Freshwater Fishes of Southern Africa – A Complete Guide on Monday, 4 November.

The book launch marked the anniversary of the NWU’s longstanding partnership…

Graphic design lecturer to showcase talent at group art exhibition

North-West University (NWU) Graphic Design lecturer and artist Danelle Heenop will take part in a sensational group art exhibition at the Alliance Française de Pretoria, located at the hub of diplomatic embassies and the Loftus stadium.

The groundbreaking exhibition, Infinite Perspectives, will be on display from 7 November to 6…

Nadia van Jaarsveldt wins big at international symposium

Nadia van Jaarsveldt, an Industrial Engineering student pursuing her master’s degree with a topic in agriculture, was recognised for her outstanding presentation at the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers (SAIAE) and Pan African Society for Agricultural Engineering (PASAE) International Symposium 2024.

Held at the Houw…

NWU’s population and health expertise is guiding South Africa to a more equitable future

In South Africa, a country still shadowed by the legacies of the past and grappling with complex social and economic challenges, the Population and Health Research Entity at the North-West University (NWU) offers a striking vision of hope. Nestled within the Faculty of Humanities on the Mahikeng Campus, this research entity has grown into a…