How to resolve coronavirus food shortages

It is no secret that millions of South Africans currently suffer under the impact of the lockdown regulations introduced because of the coronavirus pandemic. The poor access to food is probably the biggest tragedy, because millions of citizens do not know where their next meal is coming from.

A Potchefstroom engineering company,…

Brand new qualification in Mechatronic Engineering for the NWU

The Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) is proud to announce that we will be adding a brand new engineering qualification to our existing range of programmes. The Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering programme has been approved by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and will allow graduates to compete…

Nothing artificial about their expertise

A small research group at the North-West University (NWU) is starting to attract real interest for their work on artificial intelligence (AI).

“The amount of interest has come as something of a surprise,” says Prof Marelie Davel, who – with PhD student Tian Theunissen – recently travelled to New York, USA, to present their latest findings at…

Our hope lies in the power of our people

There is a saying in Tibetan: “Tragedy should be utilised as a source of strength. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster.”

This quote by the Dalai Lama XIV has perhaps never been more fitting than in the turbulent times in which we find ourselves today. When one…

NWU engineers rising to the Covid-19 challenge

The world, and now more recently our nation, is faced with difficult times as the recent Covid-19 pandemic turns life as we know it upside down. A team at the Faculty of Engineering from the North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with other experts involved in this unsettling battle, is rising to the challenge to support our…

Teaching and learning go online as NWU takes education to people

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally disrupted teaching-learning activities in South Africa and across the globe. It also challenges how we think about education and assessment, in general.

“Disruptions are opportunities to reflect on assumptions made about teaching, learning and learners,” says Prof Robert Balfour, the North-…

Dire need for research to improve child literacy

It is no secret that language development is a critical part of a child’s overall development. Sadly, the lack of this development and the terrible effects this may have on one’s life are often overlooked.

Prof Leenta Grobler, leader of the Medical Device Development group at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of…

Passion and knowledge = innovation

You will find innovation for new ideas, projects and devices in abundance at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Engineering – and the same applies when it comes to three students in Computer and Electronic Engineering.

Izak Adendorff, Gerno Visser and Duhan Janse van Rensburg were merely looking for something to do…

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…

NWU Engineering gives her dreams wings – literally!

She is inspired by the people around her – by friends, family and, in her professional career, by her lecturers. Today Dr Angelique Janse van Rensburg is someone who in turn inspires others by her absolutely unquenchable passion for what she does – being an engineer!

As former student and former lecturer at the Faculty of…