NWU student brings hope to community cattle farmers

A North-West University (NWU) PhD student has spent the last six years studying how the occurrence of reproductive conditions in cows can be prevented, thereby improving the fortunes of communal cattle farmers.

Keitiretse Molefe will graduate at the campus in Mahikeng in April 2020, and feels blessed to have been part of the research…

Game on: puzzle video games may grow critical thinking skills

The notion that playing video games is for the intellectually idle is widely held but might not be accurate. Research suggests that certain types of game play can in fact strengthen a range of cognitive, critical thinking and reasoning skills, according to Dr Byron Bunt of the North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Education.

These…

Optentia to host second Stats Camp South Africa

During 2019 the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area made history by hosting the first-ever Stats Camp South Africa. In 2020 they will yet again step into the fore and present this internationally recognised educational event.

The four-day analysis retreat will take place during the last week of April 2020 and aims…

Reduced interest rates will help to underpin business and consumer confidence

“The Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC's) decision to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points is a welcome recognition of the need to reduce borrowing costs for business and consumers in South Africa.”

This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, a well-known economist and academic from the North-West University (NWU) Business School…

New-style star accretion bursts dazzle astronomers at NWU and around the world

The meaning of the term “accretion burst” is expanding. In a rare glimpse at how high-mass stars grow even larger, an astronomer from the North-West University (NWU) has been part of a 15-country research team that has observed star bursts – or growth spurts – previously unknown to humankind.

“It is a privilege to be at the cutting…

Economic indicators forecast for 2020

According to economist Prof Danie Meyer, director of the TRADE research focus area at the North West University, 2020 is expected to be a year full of economic and geopolitical instability and volatility. The year has started on the wrong foot already, with Eskom implementing load shedding as early as the first week of the year. "It is a…

Former president tells NWU there is hope

“I am not ‘moedeloos’ (in despair). I haven’t lost hope for the future but I am deeply concerned about where we are at the moment.”

These are the words of former president, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Mr FW de Klerk. He said although he is worried about the position the country…

Growth figures stress need for credible turnaround plan

The latest worse-than-expected growth figures for the third quarter of 2019 again emphasise the urgent need to implement a credible turnaround plan to lift the economy out of its current 'low growth trap'.

It also underlines the serious economic challenges faced by South Africa, adds NWU Business School economist Prof Raymond…

Child health enjoys massive interest – national conference

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom recently hosted a very successful Child Health Priorities Conference, which attracted some 260 delegates, and even the likes of South Africa’s First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe.

Under the theme “Survive, thrive and transform – championing change for children”, the conference…

NWU Engineering hosts the best of the best

Every year, final-year students in electrical, electronic and computer engineering at South African academic universities and universities of technology are required to complete an intensive design project.

The best student project nominated by these educational institutions competes against other presentations in the National Student…