PhD study re-theorises linguistic vitality

Jean-Louis Ndoutoume Mendene received his PhD in education management at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.

Professional development may prove quite difficult if one is based far away from the institution where you want to study. In his thesis entitled, “Guidelines for…

Law’s new chair will help promote environmental sustainability

The Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU) has just received its first-ever Research Chair under the National Research Foundation’s South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChi).

The Chair in Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability (CLES) was secured by Prof Anél du Plessis who will direct its activities for the…

Taxing answers to carbon emissions

Studies have shown South Africa is one of the world’s largest carbon emitters. Dr Michelle Barnard, a senior lecturer from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law, has pledged to try and change this.

Dr Barnard recently published an award-winning article on this topic. The article focused on greenhouse gases, climate…

NWU student investigates indigenous precautions for the safe use of plant medicine

Simangaliso Lesley Mashego, a master’s student in Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, is doing research about safety measures employed by a rural Khoi-San community for commonly used medicinal plants as a way to improve health care in South Africa.

The research focused on 10…

Study examines pressures of young adult diabetes

The challenges that come with adolescence and the pressure of school is well known. Add a chronic illness that requires constant management, and this will certainly add to the load.

Marietjie Willemse recently obtained her PhD degree at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark with a study that…

"Green coal": fuel of the future

Coal in its traditional form might soon be a relic of the past, but ground-breaking research by the North-West University (NWU) is showing how a face-lift to this fossil fuel has numerous safe, green possibilities. A revolutionary process to manufacture “green” coal that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% is…

Passion for environment culminates into insightful doctoral study

Irene Muller obtained her PhD degree in development and management at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark. Irene’s passion for the environment culminated into an insightful study.

In her thesis titled “A citizen science water quality monitoring project’s contribution to…

The NWU shines with 13 ‘Science Oscar’ finalists

Thirteen of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) esteemed researchers and academics are finalists for the prestigious annual awards of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF). The NSTF-South32 Awards, also known as the ‘Science Oscars’, are sought after each year by the who’s who of science, engineering, technology and innovation in…

Model proposes innovative approach to performance management in the public sector

John Bester knows the value of innovative performance management: a concept that he has applied in a study towards his PhD degree in public management and governance from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark.

In his theses, “Innovative performance management in the public sector in Botswana: towards a new model”,…

Action-based research brings positive environmental change

Climate change is not something that happens at a distance, to other regions and other people, but is a phenomenon that has an impact on everyone, everywhere. This is a lesson that grade 7 learners are being exposed to through a research project involving researchers from the North-West University’s (NWU's) campus in Vanderbijlpark.

This…