Musa is one of Africa’s youngest female PhD graduates

The North-West University (NWU) has produced one of Africa’s youngest female PhD graduates. Musawenkosi “Musa” Saurombe received her PhD in Industrial Psychology at the university`s campus in Mahikeng on 25 April 2017.

At 23, she is one of the youngest female students in Africa to obtain a PhD.

Musa’s thesis focused on “The…

Young NWU scientist rub shoulders with Nobel Prize winners

Few scientific events are more prestigious than those where Nobel Prize winners share their knowledge. Retha Peach, a doctoral student from the North-West University (NWU), is being given the rare opportunity to attend a gathering where 31 Nobel laureates will be present.

Retha is one of five scientists whom the Academy of Science of…

TELIT-SA to host workshop on research funding and applications

On 8 and 9 June 2017, Dr Charmaine Williamson will facilitate an introductory workshop on research funding and applications which is hosted by the research focus area Technology Enhanced Learning and Innovative Education and Training in South Africa (TELIT-SA) on the North-West University’s (NW’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Dr Williamson needs…

Maintaining the balance between protection and use of SA’s most diverse floodplain ecosystem

Thousands of people rely on the floodplain of the Lower Phongolo River in KwaZulu-Natal, as do millions of fish, frogs, birds, insects and other aquatic animals. But how can they all co-exist sustainably and what is needed to maintain the delicate balance of South Africa's biggest, richest and most diverse floodplain ecosystem?

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It’s time to recognise waste pickers

They are a sight common in South Africa as they scavenge landfills and go through bins in suburbs, business and industrial districts. Yet little is known about the role waste pickers play in the economy.

Sights set on shedding light on the factors that enable waste pickers to make a living, Professor Derick Blaauw of the Faculty of…

A South African web-based platform for speech transcription

With 11 official languages in South Africa, finding an effective yet affordable way to transcribe speech to text was never going to be easy, but that is set to change with some innovative thinking from researchers who are creating an open source web-based platform for speech transcription.

Researchers from North-West University’s…

Metals in bird eggs a source of concern in Orange River catchment area

The heron that laid the golden egg? Scientists from the North-West University (NWU) have found several metals and metalloids in bird eggs in the catchment area of the Orange River which could pose a potential health risk to humans.

Prof Henk Bouwman from the Faculty of Natural Sciences says this study was part of a larger project to…

Survivor to thriver: creating a brighter future for victims of sexual abuse

The heart-wrenching reality of childhood sexual abuse is a global scourge which two researchers from North-West University (NWU) are tackling by assisting survivors to deal with their trauma and thrive.  

The worldwide prevalence as measured in 22 countries indicates that 18% to 20% of girls and 8% to 9% of boys have to cope with this trauma…

NWU Colloquium on Internationalisation and Social Cohesion

The Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a colloquium with the theme “Internationalisation and Social Cohesion”, with a specific focus on the social and institutional experiences of international students and minority students.

Facilitated by Prof Lumkile Lalendle, vice-rector, the colloquium took its…

Has SA reached the ceiling for tax collection?

The court of public opinion has it that the 2017 Budget Speech represented a contractionary budget with increased taxes and with lower levels of incentives for economic activity.

In light of this, Prof Danie Meyer and Dr Andre Mellet from the North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus (NWU) and experts in local economic development (LED…