The Trade and Development (TRADE) research entity in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) met online to plan the entity’s strategy for the next five years.

The Business School of the North-West University (NWU) has embarked on a brand-new online initiative in which current affairs in the South African sphere will be discussed via Zoom by a panel of experts during Covid-19, returning to round-table discussions when allowed. Journalists from various media will be invited to join the online panel discussion in which real-time opinions from experts in various fields can be accessed.

It has been proven conclusively that exclusively breastfeeding a baby for the first six months has numerous long-term health benefits for a child. However, a large number of South African women are not doing this.

Autism is a diverse neuro-developmental condition that is characterised by challenges with communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviour. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents with various subtypes that relate to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Researchers are also investigating phenotypes relating to brain structure and functional brain activity.

South African children will miss two or more months of school this year due to the lockdown, and are therefore missing out on school sport, while other physical activities are also limited to a large extent. This inactivity, coupled with eating patterns linked to life under lockdown, could have unwelcome effects on children’s health.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted all components of the economy – all sectors in terms of demand and supply, employment, investment, growth, confidence and exports.

 Is there really a problem?

The benefits of exercise, a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle are undisputed in modern life, and the positive impact these have on well-being and performance is no secret.

 “The current coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have disrupted routines unexpectedly and overwhelmingly. This has caused concern across the world about the impact on the mental health of not only adults, but also of children.”

The world of work after the Covid-19 pandemic will differ from the one we are used to. This is the opinion of Prof Bennie Linde, a professor in labour relations at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School for Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences.

Since the lockdown commenced, a number of businesses have had to close indefinitely, leaving thousands of South Africans unemployed. With so many people in the job market, jobseekers have to find new ways to stand out from the crowd.