The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) and the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) recently hosted a successful inaugural NWU-NCU Joint Research Seminar. This milestone event represented a significant advancement in the ongoing commitment of the NWU to fostering international research partnerships and promoting its strategic goal of internationalisation.
The seminar was the outcome of collaborative efforts led by Prof Aldona Glińska-Neweś from the NCU and Prof Ephrem Redda from the WorkWell Research Unit at the NWU. Their joint leadership, supported by both institutions, was instrumental in the development and coordination of this new academic platform that holds great promise for future scholarly engagement.
Reflecting on the importance of such initiatives, Prof Crizelle Els, director of the WorkWell Research Unit at the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU, emphasised that international academic collaboration is essential for meaningful and impactful research. “This seminar represents more than just a partnership between two institutions – it reflects our shared vision of producing impactful, globally relevant research through collaboration,” she said. “We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for joint publications, interdisciplinary engagement and the development of future research leaders.”
Earlier this year, an invitation was extended to NWU researchers to explore collaborative opportunities with colleagues at the NCU in Toruń, Poland. This invitation led to the identification and alignment of multiple research areas, laying a solid foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration. During the seminar, two presentations were delivered, showcasing the diversity and complementarity of expertise between the participating institutions. Prof Rafał Haffer from the NCU gave a presentation on the impact of the extent of process ordering in the workplace on employee attitudes and behaviour. His presentation was followed by that of Prof Bouwer Jonker from the NWU, who explored the influence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the attitudes and behaviours required of automotive assembly employees.
Prof Els said the seminar served as a dynamic forum for scholarly exchange, offering a platform to explore future joint research opportunities.
“Discussions following the presentations revealed several promising areas for collaboration, including joint publications, student exchange initiatives, and collaborative grant applications,” she explained.
Looking ahead, Prof Els said further joint activities are already being planned, and encouraged faculty members to continue exploring the possibilities outlined in the matched research areas. She added that
this collaboration between the NWU and the NCU was a vital step in building a globally engaged research community and advancing the university’s vision of international academic excellence.
