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

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…

Business School's MBA Summer Study School a resounding success

On Friday, 3 February, the North-West University (NWU) Business School concluded its Summer Study School for MBA students. Overall, the week was a resounding success, with students testifying to tremendous value gained in terms of networking, keynote inputs and a better understanding of what to expect from the programme this year. In addition…

Tottenham tourism saga: Right idea, wrong focus

A proposed three-year deal by the Department of Tourism and SA Tourism to sponsor English Premiership club Tottenham Hotspur has caused widespread consternation and has received plenty of condemnation in what many deem an ill-thought venture. According to Prof Peet van der Merwe from the research unit TREES (Tourism Research in Economic…

Management Accountancy students excel in global assessment

Students from the School of Accounting Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) again showed why both the school and its students are so highly regarded when they received an astounding 85% pass rate in the management case study exams of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). This is a global exam with an average pass rate…

Ethical leadership for the new world of work

One of the biggest challenges for leaders in today's increasingly online business world is how to carry out their job as managers. In the past, it was easier for leaders to promote a culture of trust and integrity because they knew what everyone was doing and could see when someone was not performing in accordance with their ethics. But now,…

Under-19 world cup fireworks ignite women’s cricket

How long will cricket still be known as the “Gentleman’s Game”, or is that nickname already a thing of the past? Women’s cricket has grown by leaps and bounds and this trend has continued in 2023 with the ICC Women’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

The event, which was staged in South Africa, took place at three venues, namely the North-…