Potchefstroom Campus News

Researchers demonstrate that conservation and development can go hand in hand

While cities in Africa expand rapidly and the pressure for economic growth is increasing, the protected areas on the continent face a complex challenge: how to conserve nature and empower people.

At the North-West University (NWU) the Protected Areas Research Group, led by Prof. Reece Alberts, Prof. François Retief, Prof. Claudine Roos and Prof. Dirk Cilliers, is working to find exactly that balance.

“Conservation areas are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation,” says Prof. Alberts. “They are essential to prevent the loss in biodiversity. Yet, we have to admit that… Read more

When you think of engineering, think of Africa

When you think of engineering, German engineering in particular comes to mind, while it is extremely uncommon to think of Africa. This is the opinion of Mia Mangaroo-Pillay, an industrial engineer and lecturer at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Engineering. Through her PhD thesis titled “A Lean implementation framework…

NWU engineering student scoops awards for Covid-19 innovations

Karin Schutte, a third-year mechanical engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), recently walked away with R35 000 worth of prizes at the Mahlale Innovation Consortium (MIC).

The MIC is an alliance of five higher education institutions, formed in response to a…

NWU trailblazer in diatomology scoops prestigious award

Dr Roksana Majewska, a postdoctoral fellow at the North-West University (NWU), has been recognised as a trailblazer and groundbreaker in the marine biology and diatomology fields.

At the recent Africa Genome Challenge 2021, Dr Majewska walked away with first prize in the Invertebrates and Microbes category.

The Africa…

Become a language technologist and be a wizard with programming, languages ​​and information systems

Did you know that language and computer programming can be a match made in heaven? Register now at the North-West University for the recurriculated three-year degree in language technology to explore the possibilities of this unusual combination.

This field of study specialises in…

NWU alumnus Ofentse Rabaji is a trailblazer

North-West University (NWU) alumnus, Ofentse Rabaji, was recently recognised by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) for being a trailblazer and innovative entrepreneur. 

In 2020 Ofentse proved how one man’s waste can be another man’s treasure by making face masks for the less fortunate, using scrap cotton fabric. He also…

New PhDs are music to the ears

Uncertainty reigns and doubt about the future is fostered in all but the most optimistic minds. What has remained a constant is the North-West University’s (NWU’s) superlative research output and our researchers’ indefatigable pursuit of excellence.

At the May and June graduation ceremonies, 136 PhDs were awarded, with more ceremonies…

Research looks at how interpretation affects Bible reading in Africa

The way in which Scripture is read and interpreted has a major effect on what people read in the Bible. This also determines their approach to concerning and topical issues with which the faithful struggle.

This is the focus of the research by Prof Marius Nel, research chair in Ecumenism: Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism, on the…

Middle English fires the imagination of top-rated researcher

With a B2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prof David Scott-Macnab is the highest rated researcher currently employed in the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU).

To receive a B2 rating, an academic needs to have published a substantial body of research in top-tier, high-impact international…

Disease response projects aim to make Africa self-sufficient

In a time of Covid-19 fatigue, citizens are now confronted with an even deadlier and highly transmissible Delta variant. This new virus mutation impacts on already overburdened and under-resourced health systems. More alarming is that on day 460 of the lockdown in South Africa, less than 1% of the population was fully immunised.

Also,…

Charonike remains radio’s golden girl

She is the undisputed golden girl of the North-West University’s sound waves, and on Friday, 30 July Charonike Nel proved this once more at the National Radio Awards when she was named the Best Campus Breakfast Programme Presenter.