Low voter turnout: Education is how we fix it – North-West University

The punishment does not fit the crime. South Africa has an endemic, growing and unique disease that is not only affecting the health of our country’s democratic structures, but is also an ill-conceived form of retribution for the lack of service delivery. Voter turnout continues to decline, but abstention is not the cure for consternation. It…

Book explores the role of music in emotions

Music can alter our mood, as the phrase “music calms the savage beast” illustrates, for example.

It can set the scene for calmness, romance, learning and creativity. A new book by North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Conroy Cupido explores how four visual artists created original artworks about the meaning they attach to music and…

NWU academic joins judging panel for Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards again

North-West University (NWU) Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe was once again invited to be a judge for the Vodacom Journalist of the Year national awards. The awards ceremony took place late last year.

These premier awards recognise the best journalists across the country and across media platforms in various categories such as investigative…

Academic reappointed to Press Council

Prof Mpho Chaka, deputy dean for teaching and learning at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities, has been reappointed as a public representative and adjudicator at the Press Council of South Africa for a period of five years.

The Press Council, the Press Ombud and the Appeals Panel form an independent coregulatory…

Top music practitioners to facilitate African Music workshop series

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Music is bringing top African music practitioners to share their knowledge and expertise as part of an African Music workshop series.

The first three workshops will be held during the first semester of 2023, and each of these will be open to all NWU staff and students, free of charge.

Improving service delivery in the public sector is researcher’s aim

Poor service delivery is a problem throughout South Africa, but one North-West University (NWU) academic, Prof Costa Hofisi, is doing something about it. Using his research expertise, he has set his sights on contributing to service delivery improvements in the public sector.   

His research focuses on the extent to which…

Dutch education and science attaché in South Africa visits Optentia

On 27 January 2023 the Netherlands' education and science attaché in South Africa paid a visit to the Optentia research unit of the North-West University (NWU).

Berto Bosscha met with senior management to share information on the newly created position of education and research attaché at the Netherlands Embassy in South Africa.

The Capability Model of Work: “The Sound of Justice”

Over the past five years, the Optentia research unit of the North-West University (NWU) has conducted various research projects about sustainable employment, specifically using the Capability Model of Work.

Prof Jac van der Klink, an extraordinary professor at Optentia, recently delivered a prestigious lecture in support of this…

Academic looks at impact of heavy rains and declaration of state of disaster in SA

North-West University (NWU) academic in the African Centre for Disaster Studies, Prof Livhuwani Nemakonde says the heavy rainfall experienced in South Africa in recent weeks is due to a combination of factors.

“Climatologists have indicated that this is because of the La Niña phenomenon. La Niña (Spanish for little girl) is the opposite…

Setswana academic has a passion for poetry

North-West University (NWU) Setswana lecturer and poet Ogodiseng Mokakale recently published an anthology of 60 Setswana poems, Tswina ya Poko.

Ogodiseng says teaching poetry at schools has lost its way, and that it is difficult to bring university students up to speed when they do not have a proper poetry background.

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