Potchefstroom Campus News

Prof Hans du Plessis: A literary giant passes away

He was of a different ilk. His immense literary stature cast a shadow under which so many South Africans found solace and comfort. Now, it is with sadness but also gratitude for the many contributions he made both culturally and academically, that the North-West University (NWU) has to say farewell to Prof Hans du Plessis, who passed away on Friday 24 October at the age of 79. 

Prof Hans was a beloved NWU faculty member since his appointment in 1981 as a professor in Afrikaans at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.

He was an esteemed writer,… Read more

Book explores the role of music in emotions

Music can alter our mood, as the phrase “music calms the savage beast” illustrates, for example.

It can set the scene for calmness, romance, learning and creativity. A new book by North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Conroy Cupido explores how four visual artists created original artworks about the meaning they attach to music and…

North-West University is combatting rare diseases

Rare diseases are more common than you might think. It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Not to the 4,1 million South Africans who have been or will be affected by rare diseases in their lifetime. For many it can be a death sentence, for others it is a life-altering diagnosis. Not only is the North-West University (NWU) committed to ensuring…

Cabinet reshuffle will be judged by outcomes

“The long-awaited decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to reconstitute his Cabinet and also fill existing key ministerial vacancies will be judged by the outcomes achieved in the period ahead.”

In commenting on the Cabinet reshuffle that was announced on 6 March, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU)…

School of Computer Science and Information Systems secures third place in Cyber Security Challenge finals

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Computer Science and Information Systems secured third place in the Cyber Security Challenge finals hosted by the South African National Research Network (SANReN) during the Centre for High Performance Computing’s national meeting.

Students Heinke Lubbe, Nico kemp, and Aaryadev Ghosalkar…

Zimbabwe collaboration could bring formal early childhood education skills to grannies and moms

For children up to seven years old to reach their full potential, early childhood education is essential. Across Africa, many caregivers are grannies and mothers without formal qualifications. Filling this gap is one of several areas for fruitful collaboration between researchers from the North-West University (NWU) and their counterparts in…

Building healthy attitudes towards STEM education

Students’ low performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, particularly among women, who are underrepresented in the scientific community, have been a major concern in many countries. This is exacerbated when one views the 2020 UNESCO report, which shows that women account for only 28% of engineering…

Researchers find ‘spiral arms’ around massive stars

Researchers have found an important piece of the puzzle in the formation of massive stars, also known as protons (stars with a mass that is about eight times or more greater than that of the sun). In the first-ever observational evidence, they have determined that accretion discs around forming protostars have spiral arm structures.

James Small’s great impact

He wore his heart on his sleeve. Fearless. A short temper. Emotional. A naughty devil. Playboy. Formidable firebrand. He was notorious. Journalists loved his antics and this talented wing produced them with abandon. James Terence Small – 47 tests, 20 tries. The first South African to be sent from the field with a card. It was 1993 and the South…

MSc Engineering student in line for top global award

Leané Naudé, an MSc Engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), will be packing her bags for Amsterdam in May to represent South Africa in the global finals of the Blue Sky science competition. She earned this honour after coming second in last year’s national Blue Sky awards, a biennial competition acknowledging the work of…

Prof Tobie van Dyk seconded to SADiLaR

Prof Tobie van Dyk, a highly respected applied linguist from the School of Languages at the North-West University (NWU) has been seconded to the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) from 1 January to 31 December 2023.

“Prof van Dyk’s expertise in the field of applied linguistics and his well-established national…