Basic education system pivotal to realisation of free higher education

A much welcome result of the #FeesMustFall movement is that over the next three years, the South African government spending framework has made provision for the allocation of R57 billion towards fee-free higher education and training. However – according to Prof Ilyayambwa Mwanawina, associate professor at the North-West University’s (NWU’s)…

NWU postdoctoral fellow sets her sight on BRICS youth summit

Dr Musawenkosi Saurombe, a postdoctoral fellow at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng is participating in the 2018 BRICS Youth Parliamentarian Forum as part of a delegation sent by the South African Youth for International Diplomacy (SAYID).

The programme, which is taking place in New Delhi, India from 5 to 9…

African Academy of Sciences honours NWU’s deputy vice-chancellor

Prof Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, was elected as fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).

This is a great achievement and highlights her outstanding contributions in her field of expertise.

Prof Refilwe is one of 32 senior scientists…

NWU academic attends elite training course on nuclear safeguards

Mr Tebogo Kupi, an academic and researcher from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, recently attended a regional training course on nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation for the South African region in Centurion, Gauteng.

This elite training course was organised by the European Commission’s Joint Research…

NWU academic to explore possible research collaboration

The Covenant University in Nigeria invited Prof Masood Khalique, an academic in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, to present a series of lectures and to explore the possibility of research collaboration.

Prof Khalique will visit the university’s Department of…

Screening at birth can spare babies and parents much pain

Newborn screening (NBS) is internationally recognised as essential in preventive healthcare practices. It involves the testing of newborn babies for treatable genetic conditions or inborn errors of metabolism that may not be apparent at birth. All newborn babies’ tests in South Africa are screened by the NBS laboratory at the North-West…

Physicist looks to the sun for stored power

Solar energy is an intermittent energy resource but can be stored for later use, says Prof Ashmore Mawire, principal researcher in the solar thermal energy group at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng.

He is one of the very few applied physicists investigating solar thermal energy storage systems for domestic…

Humanities crosses the digital divide with SADiLaR

For many years, the North-West University (NWU) has been at the heart of technology advances that support the use and development of South Africa’s 11 official languages. Now, as host of a national research infrastructure, the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), the NWU will be able to take its commitment to…

Eye-tracking technology opens up new possibilities for work and play

Living in the year 2018 and considering how fast technology is evolving, it is safe to say that change can happen in the blink of an eye. The School of Languages on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark is looking to the future and using eye-tracking technology to bring about real change in the way people work and play.…

Try the NWU’s cookbook on traditional Tswana cuisine

Impressing your family and friends with traditional Tswana dishes has just become easier. Dr Nicole Claasen from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), together with 129 women, has compiled a Tswana traditional food cookbook, A Taste of Vaalharts.

“While some…