A team of students from the North-West University (NWU), under the guidance of computer scientist and lecturer Dr Japie Greeff, recently participated in the BRICS Skills competition in China in the Data Analysis and Visualisation and Machine Learning and Big Data categories.

More than 138 participants from over 60 universities in 13 countries participated in the event, and the NWU walked away with various medals and awards.

Herman le Roux from the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus won a silver medal, and Jacqui Muller from the Vanderbijlpark Campus scored two bronze medals. Rechard Preston from the Vanderbijlpark Campus also received a special medal rewarded to the NWU for team performance.

Dr Greeff, who is also the deputy director of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems, took home two excellence awards for his expert guidance. He received the first award for his exceptional coaching skills, and the second for his research contributions in the field of computer science and information systems.

Dr Greeff was also awarded the second prize in the BRICS Industrial Innovation Awards for his groundbreaking research work in the industrial internet track.

"I think it's a remarkable accomplishment on a global platform. The students will soon participate in another competition on machine learning and big data, and I am feeling very optimistic about our performance," he says.

Dr Greeff's research focuses on developing innovative solutions for complex problems in the spheres of education, skills and health interventions – with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and machine learning. His work has been published in numerous prestigious academic journals and conferences, and he has been a role model for students and researchers alike.