Human Interest News

NWU welcomes new SRC members

The North-West University (NWU) welcomes its newly elected Student Representative Council (SRC) that officially took office on 6 September.

The incumbent SRC will serve for a period of one year under the leadership of the SRC president, Yikumba Andreas, a graduate in Management Sciences and Marketing Management, and a current bachelor’s…

Professor continues NWU tradition on popular radio programme

A proud tradition of speaking up to protect the environment is alive and well.

The experts of the North-West University (NWU) have for years been part of the very popular weekly insert Omgewingspraatjies on the radio programme Brêkfis met Derrich on Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) on Saturday mornings. Prof Rialet Pieters, professor in…

NWU professor is using systems thinking to change the game of learning 

Prof Roelien Goede is passionate about teaching and moved to Potchefstroom, where she had been appointed as lecturer in the then School for Computer Science, Statistics and Mathematics, in 2001.

Her main research focus, for which she received a C2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa in 2018, is the…

Bringing biokinetics to the public sector

Prof Hanlie Moss, research director of PhASRec (Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation) at the North-West University (NWU), completed her master’s degree in Biochemistry, although she has always had a profound interest in the way the human body moves.

She coached gymnastics while completing a BSc in Physiology and Biochemistry and…

Outgoing SCC president has his eye on business

Mojalefa Motaung, North-West University's (NWU's) outgoing Vanderbijlpark Student Campus Council (SCC) president and Student Representative Council (SRC) deputy president, has his sights set on making his mark in the business world. The 22-year-old owns Roar Clothing, a thriving clothing line.  

The line has a number of items…

NWU Soccer Institute scouting for new talent

Ontiretse Motingwa

On 3 September the North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute will be conducting a competition for players under the age of 19 with the aim to discover new talent.

“The soccer institute has been fostering and producing top-tier talent for many years, and we have no intention of stopping now,” says Vuyo Sambo…

Night-time cooking with solar is possible with thermal energy storage

With the aid of thermal energy storage systems it is possible to use solar cookers to prepare hot meals at night. Some systems perform better than others though, and there is room for improvement. This is according to Prof Ashmore Mawire of the Solar Thermal research group at the North-West University (NWU).

He recently gave a public…

Organisational leaders can optimise their risk management investments by exploring new methods

All public and private organisations must deal with the systemic risks of our complex world. However, such inherent complex risks are difficult to manage even where significant resources have been utilised in implementing formal risk management frameworks and related processes.

It is therefore important for organisational leaders to…

Local energy solutions are best for Africa

Local solutions to the energy crisis are needed in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, says Dr Pamelah Cheuka, an economics specialist whose PhD thesis has shed light on the energy challenges of the region.

Dr Cheuka’s recent study on the impact of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation on…

Study finds freshwater species at risk from threats linked to human activities

From climate change and associated extreme weather events to pollutants, over-utilisation and invasive species, human activities are the main threats to freshwater species in South Africa’s largest floodplain ecosystem.

This is according to the Water Research Group (WRG) of the North-West University (NWU), which for the past 10 years…