Newsroom - Potchefstroom Campus

NWU Business School empower young entrepreneurs

Young entrepreneurs from more than 70 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) benefitted from a SME Business Finance Clinic hosted by the North-West University (NWU).

The Small Business Advisory Bureau (SBAB) of the NWU’s Business School, in collaboration with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), recently hosted an SME Business Finance Clinic to empower young entrepreneurs and youth-owned cooperatives.

The primary goal of the clinic was to empower these young entrepreneurs by providing them with essential insights into SME financing and development support.

Submitted on Wed, 08/16/2023 - 15:00

NWU’s Dr Sweetness had to face a lot of sour

It took only a few seconds for her to lose weeks of her life. After her Toyota Yaris had crashed head-on into a bakkie, she was trapped in a cocoon of unconsciousness and when she awoke her world had irrevocably changed. Torturous years of rehabilitation were to follow. Initially she was forgetful, frightened, frantically searching and frequently failing to find a coherent memory.

Submitted on Mon, 08/14/2023 - 15:01

Jarred gears up for World Student Games

Badminton boffin Jarred Elliott, a 23-year-old second-year student in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), will represent the NWU and South Africa at the upcoming International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer World University Games in China.

Recognising the immense responsibility that comes with this honour, Jarred, alongside the other members of the South African contingent, is diligently preparing for the upcoming games.

Submitted on Wed, 08/02/2023 - 08:36

Researcher brings African populations into previously Eurocentric cell research

Why did some people experience more severe coronavirus symptoms than others during the Covid-19 pandemic? International researchers believe part of the answer may lie deep within human cells, specifically in the small circular chromosome inside each cell, called the mitochondrial DNA.

Genetic variations in mitochondrial DNA are considered the key to unlocking answers about the innermost workings of cells and mapping the way forward for more effective medical treatment.

Submitted on Mon, 07/31/2023 - 15:12

Solar telescope expands research horizons into solar physics

Located on the roof of building G5 at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus, the solar telescope of the Centre for Space Research has garnered attention from organisations such as the BBC and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and principal scientist involved in the project, recently attended the National Astronomy Meeting in Cardiff, Wales, where he was commended for the outstanding work done by the Centre for Space Research.

Submitted on Mon, 07/31/2023 - 14:33

Using technology to prepare language teachers for the future

While debates about the quality of teacher education intensify, the North-West University (NWU) is exploring solutions, including mixed reality, that will ensure that well-prepared and effective teachers enter the country’s classrooms.

The recent findings of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), indicating that 81% of South Africa’s Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, have reignited the debate about the quality of pre-service teacher preparedness in the education sector.

Submitted on Mon, 07/31/2023 - 14:16

Naiden Jaarts takes to the air

Whether his graceful dive would cause his wings to be clipped was touch and go. He still gives a slightly embarrassed laugh when he thinks about it. It was Monday, 27 February in Potchefstroom during the Varsity Cup. The North-West University (NWU) Eagles were battling the Shimlas on the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in what was to end in a 63-16 victory against the visitors from Bloem. Just before the break the ball was played along the line and landed in Naiden Jaarts’s eager hands. This wing did what all try gluttons do.

Submitted on Mon, 07/24/2023 - 08:02

NWU: The sustainable apple does not fall far from the TREES

Glitzy adds showing sun-drenched beaches, or snow-capped mountain peaks with views that stretch as far as the horizon allows. A smiling stewardess pouring a cup of coffee; a food stall next to a bustling street serving exotic cuisine. Tourism as an experience is a commodity – a commodity that sells, but one that is often misunderstood. Not only is tourism a powerful contributor to economic growth, it also helps to sustain our vulnerable ecosystems.

Submitted on Wed, 07/19/2023 - 15:47