In an exciting first the Research and Postgraduate Support Department, in collaboration with the Centre for Teaching and Learning, hosted a combined Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and the Postgraduate Students Showcase (PSS). This dual event, held on 3 October 2024 at the scenic Roots Lifestyle Café, spotlighted the innovative research being conducted by honours-degree, master’s-degree and doctoral-degree students across various faculties.

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a renowned competition designed to challenge postgraduate students to present their complex research in just three minutes. Originally developed by the University of Queensland, 3MT has grown into a global platform that enhances students’ ability to convey their work in a clear, concise manner to non-specialist audiences. The North-West University (NWU) has proudly hosted this prestigious event since 2021, providing an opportunity for students to showcase their ground-breaking work while honing their presentation and communication skills.

“This year’s event saw fierce competition, with participants impressing judges and audiences alike with their ability to break down intricate research topics into digestible and compelling presentations,” said Duxi Mafolo, manager of Higher Degrees Student Development in the Research Support Department on the Mahikeng Campus.

The standout winners of the 2024 NWU 3MT competition were:

3MT master’s-degree category winners:

• Winner: Ms Tshenolo Masilo, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
• 2nd prize: Ms Nabeela Ellemdin, Faculty of Education
• 3rd prize: Mr Tebogo Dipale, Business School

3MT doctoral-degree category winners:

• Winner: Ms Gugulethu Ndlovu, Faculty of Theology
• 2nd prize: Ms Marijke Benson, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
• 3rd prize: Ms Debbie Mtshelwane, Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

Complementing the 3MT was the PSS. This segment invited postgraduate students to present their research visually, through detailed posters that highlighted the relevance of their work to at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The competition emphasised creativity and clarity, as students needed to effectively convey their research outcomes and impacts through innovative poster designs.

Here are the top PSS achievers across the honours-degree, master’s-degree, and doctoral-degree categories:

PSS honours-degree category winner:

• Winner: Mr Tiego Johannes Chuene, Faculty of Humanities

PSS master’s-degree category winners:

• Winner: Ms Koketso Rabanye, Faculty of Humanities
• 2nd prize: Ms Keotshepile Malebadi, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
• 3rd prize: Ms Kegomoditswe Makgofa, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

PSS doctoral-degree category winners:

• Winner: Mr Tsumbedzo Ramalevha, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
• 2nd prize: Mr Martin le Roux, Faculty of Health Sciences
• 3rd prize: Mr Eddie Kok, Faculty of Education

The 2024 combined 3MT and PSS competition was a celebration of the innovative spirit that permeates the NWU’s postgraduate community. From natural sciences, education and health sciences to humanities and business/economic management, engineering and theology, the breadth of research on display was truly inspiring. These competitions not only provided students with a platform to share their work but also helped cultivate the skills necessary to communicate complex research to broader audiences, a crucial aspect of today’s academic and professional landscape.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and dedication! We encourage everyone to watch the remarkable presentations and poster displays by following the link below:

Staff from CTL under the leadership of Dr N Morule and staff from Higher Degrees Support in the Research Support Department under the leadership of Mrs Rose Kgantsi, and our judges from different Faculties.

 

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and dedication!

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their hard work and dedication!