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 choir wins European competition

With their angelic voices, capturing the hearts and souls of their audiences, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus choir came out on top at the recent Prague Advent and Christmas Choral Festival.

The choir was not only announced as the festival winners, but also won gold in the big mixed choir category.

NWU hosts top-25 Science-in-Action and Mathematics-in-Action Olympics winners

It is well reported that when it comes to maths and science, South Africa’s performance is among the worst in the world. Academics at the North-West University (NWU), together with the South African Teachers Union (SAOU) and the South African Academy of Science and Arts (SAAWK), are committed to improving the country’s mathematics and…

Puppet show with a twist

As the result of a research study at the Faculty of Health Sciences of the North-West University (NWU), the Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) recently presented a puppet show at the Potchefstroom Hospital to communicate information about the HIV virus.

The EndoAfrica study is a collaboration project between Stellenbosch…

ATP Challenger tennis returns to South Africa

Local tennis has been boosted by the news that Tennis South Africa (TSA) has secured the rights to bring an ATP Challenger tournament to the country in 2020. The ATP Challenger 50 event will take place from 9 March 2020 at the new tennis complex at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom.

Challenger events are,…

Former president tells NWU there is hope

“I am not ‘moedeloos’ (in despair). I haven’t lost hope for the future but I am deeply concerned about where we are at the moment.”

These are the words of former president, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Mr FW de Klerk. He said although he is worried about the position the country…

Growth figures stress need for credible turnaround plan

The latest worse-than-expected growth figures for the third quarter of 2019 again emphasise the urgent need to implement a credible turnaround plan to lift the economy out of its current 'low growth trap'.

It also underlines the serious economic challenges faced by South Africa, adds NWU Business School economist Prof Raymond…

Child health enjoys massive interest – national conference

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom recently hosted a very successful Child Health Priorities Conference, which attracted some 260 delegates, and even the likes of South Africa’s First Lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe.

Under the theme “Survive, thrive and transform – championing change for children”, the conference…

NWU Engineering hosts the best of the best

Every year, final-year students in electrical, electronic and computer engineering at South African academic universities and universities of technology are required to complete an intensive design project.

The best student project nominated by these educational institutions competes against other presentations in the National Student…

NWU does its bit to safeguard the quality of medicine

The North-West University (NWU) not only strives to offer quality education in a South African context, but also has a huge drive to spread this expertise further around the world.

Three years ago, the NWU’s Faculty of Health Sciences, through its World Health Organisation Collaboration Centre for the Quality Assurance of Medicine (…

Sport participation at school – have we lost the plot?

In this opinion piece, Prof JP Rossouw, a research fellow and former director of the Education and Human Rights in Diversity research unit at the North-West University (NWU), examines society’s approach to sport participation in school.

In international sport columns, two Irish commentators recently did their best to discredit the…