PhD student shares her TechWomen experience

Ntokozo Happy Msiza, a PhD student in animal sciences at the North-West University (NWU), recently returned from the TechWomen programme in the United States, where she represented South Africa among women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

TechWomen, an initiative by the Bureau of Educational and…

NWU’s corporate publications shine in national competitions

The corporate publications of the North-West University (NWU) have excelled in this year’s South African Publication Forum and Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education (MACE) competitions.

It is a proud achievement for the university in its pursuit of excellence.

Twelve awards from the South African Publication…

GDP growth figures underscore urgency of implementing growth-friendly economic reforms

The unexpected and disappointing gross domestic product (GDP) growth figures for the third quarter of 2024 confirm the extent to which South Africa’s growth prospects remain vulnerable to negative factors such as adverse weather conditions, weakened exports and other lagging sectors.

In commenting on the release of the growth figures…

World Prematurity Day: Raising awareness about preterm birth

World Prematurity Day, observed annually on 17 November, is a global awareness day dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges of preterm birth and the impact it has on families and communities worldwide.

Every year, approximately 15 million babies are born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation), making preterm birth a leading…

Prof Elsa continues her lifelong journey to promote self-directed learning

Self-directed learning can make the process of learning more enjoyable and allow students to personalise the learning experience, which is empowering and motivating.

Prof Elsa Mentz, director of the Research Unit Self-Directed Learning from the North-West University (NWU), is a true advocate for self-directed learning in higher and…

North-West University expertise puts rural women’s mental health in the spotlight

They are too often forgotten and relegated to an afterthought – their plight unheard, their future uncertain. They are the women in South Africa’s low- and middle-income communities who suffer from perinatal mental health issues, and the North-West University (NWU) is putting their needs in the spotlight.

Perinatal mental health issues…

North-West University at the forefront of agricultural innovation

Crop production in South Africa is overshadowed by storm clouds, and not the type that farmers crave. A multitude of uncertainties combine to darken prospects for the country’s crop farmers, which include climate change, water shortages, soil degradation, disease, economic instability and infrastructure and energy restrictions.

That is…

Success and insights from NWU’s collaborative writing camp, empowering postgraduate researchers

From 11 to 15 November 2024, the North-West University’s (NWU) Research and Postgraduate Support Directorate hosted a successful writing camp aimed at tackling the challenges faced by postgraduate students. Held in collaboration with the Writing Centre and the Chemical Resources Beneficiation (CRB) group, the camp provided a transformative…

A new era for SADiLaR: Advancing South Africa's digital language revolution

"Language is a process of free creation; its laws and principles are fixed, but the manner in which the principles of generation are used is free and infinitely varied. Even the interpretation and use of words involves a process of free creation."

These words by Noam Chomsky encapsulate the core of SADiLaR’s mission - harnessing the…

Nursing’s undergraduate research day: showcasing future healthcare scientists

The 2024 final-year Nursing students at the North-West University (NWU) recently took the spotlight as they displayed their research projects during the undergraduate research day, which took place on the Potchefstroom and Mahikeng campuses on separate days.

This annual event was collaboratively led by Francois Watson, senior lecturer…