The North-West University (NWU) Council has approved two new teaching-learning centres: the Centre for Health Professions Education and the Centre for Engineering Education.

Prof Robert Balfour, deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, made the announcement during the recent opening of the university’s academic year at its three campuses in Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.

“In 2019, we will focus on support for improved academic integrity in conjunction with research productivity, quality, excellence, visibility and impact,” said Prof Balfour. “In this regard, we will continue our efforts to create a conducive research and innovation environment. We will do this by addressing workload balance, the institution of a Research Chairs Day, the launch of an NWU organisation for Women in Science, as well as institutional support for new book project initiatives that meet Department of Higher Education and Training requirements.”

Last year, the NWU was awarded an impressive five out of five stars in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Rating for Teaching-Learning and Employability of Students and several groups and fields received praiseworthy international rankings.

”The recent findings of the Shanghai Ranking Consultancy’s global academic ranking of 1 600 universities in 83 countries places the NWU’s geography, psychology and environmental sciences and mathematics among the top 500 in the world,” said Prof Balfour.

Prof Dan Kgwadi, NWU vice-chancellor, said progress has been made since the adoption of a “complex unitary model” in July 2017. The new model involved incorporating the three different campuses under one unified NWU and was a departure from the federal model of the past.

“I think the idea is not to simplify things. We need to appreciate the complexity and make it work,” said Prof Kgwadi.

Prof Balfour encouraged all staff across the three campuses to make time to meet frequently (either using technology or face-to-face), so that they remain connected to each other.