The science behind absent fathers

A large number of South African children are living their lives without the presence of a father figure. The issue of absent fathers has been a major problem in the country for a number of years.

Dr Fazel Freeks, who is a senior lecturer and the coordinator: community engagement at the Faculty of Theology at the North-West…

Sharpeville 2020: action research inspires change for the better

More than 55 years after the Sharpeville massacre, the township is still bleeding, and the youth are suffering the consequences. This is according to Prof Danie Meyer, associate professor in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University’s (NWU's) campus in Vanderbijlpark. 

Danie is spearheading the Sharpeville…

Capacitating small-scale farmers is cattle project’s purpose

A 10-year-old partnership between the North-West University (NWU), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is going strong, continuing to produce good results for small-scale farmers. Launched in 2007, the North West Nguni Cattle Development Project is the province’s contribution to…

Optentia research starts with the community

The 1990s concept of “giving psychology away” has come to life at Optentia in 2017 where research is being done with the purpose of “giving science away”. For the Optentia research focus area, the community is the starting point for any research project.  “At Optentia, we do research together with the community,” says its director, Prof Ian…

Polish expert in supply chain management visits NWU

Sebastian Kot regards South Africa as not only one of the most beautiful countries he has visited thus far, but also as a valued destination for collaborative research.

During a recent visit to sunny South Africa it was not only the scenic environment, the local cuisine or the friendly people that left Sebastian Kot in awe, but also the…

AUTHeR: Community-based research with a difference

The research activities of the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Potchefstroom are focused on bio-psychosocial health and specifically on preventing illness, maintaining and promoting health and facilitating quality health systems.

AUTHeR supports the World…

NWU at the forefront of community research

Community research is undergoing a major shift in South Africa, and the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of the changes. Where previously the emphasis was on working on philanthropic projects in communities, community research now uses scientifically based methods to tackle critical community challenges.

“We are…

Five inaugural lectures in five months at NWU Health Sciences

An inaugural lecture is an once-in-a-lifetime experience for an academic, but at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, five of these unique events have taken place in the space of just five months.

Between May and September 2017, five of the faculty’s professors stepped up to the podium, one by one, and…

NWU astrophysicist selected as a member of ASSAF

Prof Rodney Medupe, an astrophysicist and professor on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, was recently selected and inaugurated as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

He was inaugurated alongside 40 other leading scientists during ASSAf’s annual awards ceremony on 11 October 2017.

NWU’s top researchers are a hard act to follow

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences again took top honours at this year’s Excellence in Research Awards on 27 October. The faculty won the titles of Most Productive Senior Researcher and Most Productive Junior Researcher, just as they did last year.

Many outstanding staff members from…