Social Work: the profession where action meets compassion

March is World Social Work Month and during this time the spotlight is not only on the profession, but also on the important contributions these brave professionals make to society.

The awareness campaign reached a highpoint on 20 March 2018 when professional social workers celebrated Social Work Day. According to Prof Ansie Fouché and Dr…

Screening at birth can spare babies and parents much pain

Newborn screening (NBS) is internationally recognised as essential in preventive healthcare practices. It involves the testing of newborn babies for treatable genetic conditions or inborn errors of metabolism that may not be apparent at birth. All newborn babies’ tests in South Africa are screened by the NBS laboratory at the North-West…

Try the NWU’s cookbook on traditional Tswana cuisine

Impressing your family and friends with traditional Tswana dishes has just become easier. Dr Nicole Claasen from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), together with 129 women, has compiled a Tswana traditional food cookbook, A Taste of Vaalharts.

“While some…

NWU researchers honoured by ASSAf

Two researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) were honoured for their outstanding research by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

Prof Alta Schutte and Prof Marius Smuts were recently elected as members of ASSAf. New members are elected annually in recognition of their academic…

AUTHeR: Community-based research with a difference

The research activities of the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom are focused on bio-psychosocial health and specifically on preventing illness, maintaining and promoting health and facilitating quality health systems.

AUTHeR supports the World…

Five inaugural lectures in five months at NWU Health Sciences

An inaugural lecture is an once-in-a-lifetime experience for an academic, but at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, five of these unique events have taken place in the space of just five months.

Between May and September 2017, five of the faculty’s professors stepped up to the podium, one by one, and…

More activities needed to promote early object control skills

Under the guidance of physical education teachers, schoolgirls in South Africa should be exposed to more activities that promote early object control skills.

This is one of the recommendations of a study conducted by Marilette Visagie in conjunction with Prof Anita Pienaar and Prof Dané Coetzee of the Physical Activity, Sport and…

NWU hosts its second Autism symposium

Autism affects one in 68 children, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the more effectively it can be managed. The Institute for Psychology and Wellbeing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom is helping to raise awareness by hosting its second Autism Symposium. It will be held at the Dawie du Plessis Lecture Hall on 29…

Four NWU researchers in running for Science Oscars

Four scientists of the North-West University (NWU) are finalists in the National Science and Technology’s (NSTF) prestigious science awards, also known as the “Science Oscars” of South Africa.

Prof Louis du Preez (zoology), Prof Alta Schutte (cardiovascular physiology), Prof Melville Saayman (tourism) and Prof Linda Godfrey (waste…

NWU hosts its second Autism symposium

Autism affects one in 68 children, and the earlier it is diagnosed, the more effectively it can be managed. The Institute for Psychology and Wellbeing at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom is helping to raise awareness by hosting its second Autism Symposium. It will be held at the Dawie du Plessis Lecture Hall on 29…