Poverty thrives where corruption is high

“When good governance is sacrificed on the altar of corruption, service delivery falters. Where corruption thrives, as we have seen in many of our municipalities, an increase in poverty becomes inevitable.”

This is according to Prof Kedibone Phago, director of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School for Government Studies, who…

Unlocking the cultural language of emojis: a study on Facebook emojis and isiXhosa meanings

A researcher in the School of Communication at the North-West University (NWU), Dr Quatro Mgogo, has embarked on a study to explore how Facebook emojis are being employed to shape the meanings of izaci namaqhalo esiXhosa (isiXhosa proverbs and idioms).

The study also delves into how isiXhosa-speaking Facebook users are harnessing emojis…

Academic walks away with Best Poetry award 2023

Kaka Mokakale from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) subject group Setswana was announced the winner in the Best Poetry category of the 2023 South African Literary Awards (SALA).

The awards were made after the Africa Century International African Writers conference that took place on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus.

Kaka…

Capability development is key to sustainable employment – North-West University

Imagine an hourglass and think of one of the countless impoverished communities in South Africa. Ask yourself: How do we enrich the lives of the people in these communities and equip them with the skills to secure sustainable employment opportunities? If you fill the hourglass with resources and turn it over, these resources will trickle down…

Insightful public lecture looks at harnessing strengths in the workplace

Prof Marianne van Woerkom examined the importance of identifying and utilising the strengths and talents of employees in the workplace during a recent public lecture hosted by the Optentia research unit on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Prof Van Woerkom, a professor of positive psychology and human resource…

NWU honours virtuoso Prof Herman Hubert van der Spuy

The North-West University (NWU) has bestowed an honorary doctorate on Prof Herman Hubert van der Spuy for his exceptional contributions that have helped shape the South African musical landscape.

Prof Van der Spuy’s influence and contributions as an adjudicator, examiner and adviser at music institutions throughout South Africa earned…

Diversity in music education raised at international conference

The School of Music at the North-West University (NWU) and the research niche area Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications (MASARA) recently hosted the sixteenth Cultural Diversity in Music Education (CDIME) conference under the leadership of Prof Albi Odendaal.

The biennial international conference ran from 9 to 11…

NWU designers dazzle at Loerie and Student Gold Pack awards

Winning an award once is admirable. Winning it twice is even better. Winning it again and again is a feat.

Students and graduates of the North-West University’s (NWU) Graphic Design subject group shine in national and international awards competitions year after year. Showing incredible consistency, they have been bagging awards through…

Bridging the gap: Fostering collaborations between academia and public service

The School of Government Studies in the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) hosted a public seminar on Tuesday, 3 October.

The seminar's primary objective was to address bridging the gap between academia and practice, with a particular emphasis on the role of the School of Government Studies.

Events of this…

Nepotism is stealing Africa’s future

Nepotism is not limited to isolated cases in Africa, but a trend throughout the continent. Allowing nepotism practices through family, friends and those least qualified to occupy leadership positions is tantamount to stealing Africa’s future from its young generation. The liberation movement of the 1960s has not succeeded in addressing nepotism…