International expert: R is the present and future of statistical programming

“The programming language R is the present and future of statistical programming.” Dr Emir Efendić, postdoctoral researcher from Eindhoven University in the Netherlands, will attempt to convince his audience of this statement during a workshop hosted by the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area in Vanderbijlpark on 19…

Finnish academic to review school-wide positive behaviour support and interventions

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area in Vanderbijlpark will be hosting Prof Hannu Savolainen from the Department of Education at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. During his visit, he will deliver a lecture on School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support and Interventions (SWPBIS) on 12 September 2018.

ProSchool…

Multimodal learning and multilingualism is his passion

Prof Jako Olivier’s passion and research focus are multimodal learning and multilingualism, and this was also the topic of his recent inaugural address.

Prof Olivier is currently a professor in multimodal learning in the School of Professional Studies in Education at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education.

Research explores preferences of game meat eaters

Earlier this year, Statistics SA stated that over six million South Africans are currently unemployed. With the country’s current economic climate resulting in shrinking opportunities for formal employment, more and more South Africans are turning to entrepreneurship.

North-West University (NWU) Tourism Research in Economic Environs…

Paving the way for women entrepreneurs

Opportunity should be without bias. There is a dearth of female entrepreneurs in the country and the North-West University (NWU) is addressing this problem through the Enterprising Women Programme (EWP).

There are many pitfalls and roadblocks facing women who want to start their own business and a level playing field is an imperative where…

How resilient are SA’s female entrepreneurs?

South African policy makers and researchers are in agreement: a thriving small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) sector is the key to job creation, economic sustainability and ultimately positive growth. With the National Development Plan (NDP) predicting that by 2030 SMMEs will generate 90% of the 11 million new jobs targeted, the future…

South Africa’s most economic significant leisure activity is under severe threat

The extreme pollution in a number of South Africa’s rivers, dams and marine systems is posing a threat to the country’s R52 billion recreational fishing industry.

Prof Melville Saayman, director of the research focus area Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES) at the North-West University (NWU), in conjunction with…

NWU researcher brings home 2018 Women in Science Award

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Prof Ilani Loubser walked away with the Distinguished Young Women Scientist: Astronomy award during the 2018 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA) ceremony.

The prestigious event, hosted by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) since 2003, took place on 23 August 2018 in Polokwane…

International conferences boost NWU postgraduate student development

Researchers and postgraduate students of the North-West University (NWU) recently attended the 13th annual International Conference on Management, Finance and Entrepreneurship (ICMFE) as well as the 15th International Conference on Economics and Social Sciences (ICESS) in Johannesburg.

The NWU delegation, representative of the Faculty of…

International expert to facilitate workshop on longitudinal research

The Optentia research focus area at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark has quite a busy month ahead. One of the highlights is certainly the workshop by Dr Hannu Savolainen, professor in special education in the Department of Education at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland and extraordinary professor at Optentia.…