Social workers play an important role in the communities they serve. They are a voice for people who aren’t being heard, and they confront serious social issues to enable both young and old to thrive. In short: they are committed to making the world a better place to live in.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education in Vanderbijlpark recently joined the global community in celebrating World Food Day. On 16 October, the faculty hosted a special lecture on food security and the eradication of worldwide hunger.

It was a sight to behold. As the music started to play and the velvet curtains drew open, the kids at the El Shaddai Primary School in Vanderbijlpark drew in their breaths and their eyes shone with wonder. It was time for the colourful puppets to talk and for small children to listen and learn.

Thandi Hlotshana is about to see the world. Hailing from the East Rand, the bubbly 23-year old who is a final-year BA student in industrial psychology and labour relations at the North-West University (NWU) has been awarded the Abe Baily Bursary – one of only 18 recipients in the country.

If you ever doubt the value of mathematics and science, just ask Janu Fouché and Ruan le Hanie to share their future career prospects with you. 

This year marks the seventh year since the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark stepped to the fore to host the region’s annual CANSA Relay for Life.

Contestants in the prestigious Mr and Miss Vaal beauty pageant recently shone on the red carpet during this glittering event.

If you have not yet booked your seat for the much anticipated “Success is a choice” workshop by Robin Banks – one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject of mind power and personal mastery – you should hurry-up and do so.

Vanderbijlpark, a pollution hotspot, has been chosen as the location for a state-of-the-art observation station that will monitor both the weather and air quality.

It promises to be a busy month ahead for the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area with a number of workshops aimed at professionals, members of academia and postgraduate students.