Prof Golightly on problem-based learning to foster self-directed learning in Geography education

During his inaugural lecture, Prof Aubrey Golightly discussed the influence of problem-based learning (PBL) on students’ self-directed learning (SDL) skills, and looked at PBL as a means to foster SDL in Geography education. SDL is a process during which individuals take ownership of their own…

NWU academic elected as representative of Women in Higher Education Management

Prof Shan Simmonds, North-West University (NWU) academic in the research unit Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight), has been elected as the South African representative of Women in Higher Education Management (WHEM).

The WHEM network is an international feminist research consortium. It analyses challenges for women in…

Prof Ramorola, aiming to optimise technology use in classrooms

As an expert in computer-integrated education and digital learning, Prof Mmankoko Ziphorah Ramorola firmly believes that, since learners in the 21st century are technology-savvy, they absolutely cannot be taught in the same way as learners before them. Whereas the children of today are – so to speak – born with digital competence, the same…

NWU education linguist looks at reading literacy crisis in SA

The Covid-19 pandemic has once again highlighted the reading literacy crisis in South Africa. The inaugural 2030 Reading Panel calls for “fundamental reforms” to ensure that all children read for meaning by 2030 at the age 10. Currently, 78% of children cannot read for meaning. Due to rotational timetables and school closures in 2020 and 2021,…

NWU collaborates internationally to explore possibility of integrating community-engaged learning 

Prof Lesley Wood, director of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Community-based Educational Research (COMBER) focus area, was recently invited by Dr

Maura Adshead from the Limerick University (UL) in Ireland to collaborate in exploring the possibility of integrating more community-engaged learning into higher education curricula.…

What needs to be done to ensure ECD coding and robotics curriculum succeeds

An early childhood education specialist at the North-West University (NWU) has welcomed the recently published, first-ever draft curriculum for teaching coding and robotics from Grades R to 3. However, she emphasises that some hard work lies ahead if the proposed curriculum is to succeed.

The Department of Basic Education published the…

Toto Tshona: from a small community to the great success story of the NWU

She danced, sang and prayed. For a few moments, the entire Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) and all the joy in the world belonged to Ntombizanele Beauty Tshona. Because, on a Thursday morning, with the winter sun smiling playfully through the rows of wattle trees, the 38-year-old Toto Tshona received his doctoral degree…

NWU researcher triumphant against all odds

Ontiretse Motingwa

North-West University (NWU) Prof Ferdinand Potgieter, a professor and sub-area leader for discipline in the research unit Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight), recently received notice of his C2-rating as an established researcher from the National Research Foundation (NRF).…

Professor Marietjie Havenga delivers inaugural lecture

An inaugural lecture is considered an important rite of passage in the life and career of an academic.

Professor Marietjie Havenga delivered her inaugural lecture, titled Cooperative problem-based learning in Information Technology: Active learning for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In this lecture, Prof Havenga argued that…

Renowned educationist passed away

A well-known former dean of the Faculty of Education and vice-rector at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, Prof Dewey de Wet, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, 2 July in his house in Potchefstroom.

Prof de Wet studied at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE),…