MSc Engineering student in line for top global award

Leané Naudé, an MSc Engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), will be packing her bags for Amsterdam in May to represent South Africa in the global finals of the Blue Sky science competition. She earned this honour after coming second in last year’s national Blue Sky awards, a biennial competition acknowledging the work of…

NWU reaches out to smallholder farmers

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (KZNDARD) and Wesgrow Potatoes, hosted three farmers’ days for smallholder farmers in Swayimane and Applesbosch in January 2023. This was to show support to these farmers and to…

SONA 2023: Words must be backed by credible action

The 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to Parliament on 9 February gave a wide-ranging, candid and realistic appraisal of South Africa’s present tough and challenging economic landscape.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says the SONA in…

Optentia hosts prestige lecture on how research impacts daily lives

Research should not only be an academic activity but should also have a positive impact on society.

This view was shared by Prof Darelle van Greunen, an extraordinary professor at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research unit during a recent prestige lecture at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

During the lecture titled “…

Academic commends Newsroom Afrika for introducing indigenous language

North-West University (NWU) academic and director of Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research unit Prof Abiodun Salawu has commended the South African television news channel Newzroom Afrika for expanding its horizons with the launch of its first Nguni-language news broadcast.

Prof Salawu says this is a very heart-warming…

Prof Tobie van Dyk seconded to SADiLaR

Prof Tobie van Dyk, a highly respected applied linguist from the School of Languages at the North-West University (NWU) has been seconded to the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) from 1 January to 31 December 2023.

“Prof van Dyk’s expertise in the field of applied linguistics and his well-established national…

Business School's MBA Summer Study School a resounding success

On Friday, 3 February, the North-West University (NWU) Business School concluded its Summer Study School for MBA students. Overall, the week was a resounding success, with students testifying to tremendous value gained in terms of networking, keynote inputs and a better understanding of what to expect from the programme this year. In addition…

Tottenham tourism saga: Right idea, wrong focus

A proposed three-year deal by the Department of Tourism and SA Tourism to sponsor English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur has caused widespread consternation and has received plenty of condemnation in what many deem an ill-thought venture. According to Prof Peet van der Merwe from the research unit TREES (Tourism Research in Economic…

Write It: a free multilingual programme to support students with academic writing

Academic writing is key to academic success, but getting it right is not easy, particularly for students who are learning in a second or third language. This is where the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) makes a difference.

SADiLar’s language development and testing node, the Inter-institutional Centre for…

Vanderbijlpark Campus multi-purpose hall nears completion

Management of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus was recently led by Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations, on a walkabout to see how the construction of the campus’ highly anticipated multi-purpose hall is progressing.

The multi-purpose hall project…