Potchefstroom Campus News

Special moment for dean as daughter graduates in programme she championed

Twelve years ago, Prof. Liezl van Dyk, executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering, came to the North-West University (NWU) on a mission: to play a central role in developing industrial engineering as an impactful discipline at the university. Her daughter, Karla, was 10 years old at the time. Now, on 31 March this year, Prof. van Dyk experienced the fruits of her labour first-hand when Karla graduated as an industrial engineer.

“It is a full-circle moment that highlights the impact of academic leadership and the inspiration it offers to future generations of women in engineering… Read more

NWU awards honorary doctorate for work in Afrikaans

The North-West University (NWU) has awarded an honorary doctorate to a seasoned and experienced academic who has made an outstanding contribution towards promoting Afrikaans in the Low Countries (the Netherlands and Belgium).

Prof Ena Jansen, who has lived permanently in Amsterdam since 2002, was honoured for her enormous…

NWU researchers honoured by ASSAf

Two researchers from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) were honoured for their outstanding research by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

Prof Alta Schutte and Prof Marius Smuts were recently elected as members of ASSAf. New members are elected annually in recognition of their academic…

AUTHeR: Community-based research with a difference

The research activities of the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom are focused on bio-psychosocial health and specifically on preventing illness, maintaining and promoting health and facilitating quality health systems.

AUTHeR supports the World…

Protea star appointed NWU coach

Former Protea star and North-West University (NWU) stalwart, Elsunet du Plessis, has been appointed as the new NWU netball coach starting on 1 January 2018. Elsunet takes over the Potchefstroom-based team’s reins from Dorette Badenhorst.

“After an extensive consultation process Elsunet proved to be the best possible candidate to…

Rugby World Cup 2023: Don’t wait SA, start preparing now

World Rugby has announced that South Africa is their preferred choice to host the IRB 2023 Rugby World Cup. South Africa beat France as well as Ireland, and although an official vote will take place on 15 November, the independent World Rugby’s recommendation – a body comprised of rugby experts, business and commercial analysts – should hold…

The link between climate change and money

The North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a climate change public lecture on its campus in Potchefstroom.

The issue on climate change was looked at from a legal, environmental science, engineering and a financial perspective.Dr Michelle Barnard who is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Law, Ncobile Nkosi, a social-…

Little African Scientist addressing learners’ urgent science needs

Foundation-level learners in the country are not exposed nearly enough to science and this should urgently be addressed.

Research has found that, by the time children in rural South African schools reach Grade 3, they are already three years behind their peers in most other countries. This gap grows as they progress through school…

NWU hosts successful pertraction workshop

The Focus Area: Chemical Resource Beneficiation and the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support Office of the North-West University (NWU) proudly hosted a Pertraction Metal Refinery Workshop on 11 October 2017.

They did this in collaboration with PX Technologies®, DRA Global, MEMCON, the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the…

Trophy hunting is worth R1,98 billion to the South African economy

Trophy hunting is worth exceedingly more to the South African economy than thought before. A new study headed by Prof Peet van der Merwe of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) research unit Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES), in collaboration with Professional Hunters of South Africa (PHASA), has shown it can be as…

NWU collects 14 tons of clothes for a good cause

On 9 October students from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom were buzzing with excitement as they wandered around campus shoeless in support of Barefoot Day.

Barefoot Day is an annual event day during which students go about their daily activities barefoot as a symbol of empathy for people around the world…