History is not a nation-building discipline, especially not in the current South African context. This is according to Prof Elize van Eeden, researcher and acting deputy director of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Social Sciences at the campus in Vanderbijlpark.

By observing people’s behaviour in public restrooms across South Africa, a leading South African hygiene brand found that – on average – only four out of 10 people wash their hands. And of these, only 65% used soap.

The most recent statistic son the performance of the South African economy during the first quarter of the year – as reported on by Statistics South Africa – left many economists and policy makers in a state of shock.

Whoever says that mathematics and information sciences can’t be fun, has surely never taken part in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) annual GeeXpo initiative!

What might the future of South Africa look like beyond 2025? Where will the consumers of the future be located? How will smart cities evolve? Can inequality be overcome? And, how will technology alter commerce and development?

The Optentia research focus area on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark recently hosted a conference entitled “Developing Support for the learning needs of ALL learners”.

“No job, no food, please help.” These words on makeshift cardboard signs can be seen at every street corner on any given day in South Africa. With an unemployment rate of 26,7% in the first quarter of 2018, it comes as no surprise that South Africa is one of 20 nations with the highest unemployment figures in the world.

The most important asset for any company is not something palpable. It is not equipment, infrastructure, data or even intellectual property. No. The most valuable asset of any business is the people (human capital).

 “Social scientists hold the key to imagining and realising an alternative future, not only for South Africa but for the world. Through social sciences we are offered the opportunity to open up debate, to collaborate and ultimately shape our collective future.”

When it comes to entrepreneurial training and development the North-West University (NWU) is blazing a trail within the South African higher education sector. This year, no less than 10 Enactus teams will represent the university at the intra-university round of the Universities Business Challenge (UBC) 2018.