Institutional News

ANSTI appoints dean to its interim council

NWU staff continue to make significant contributions, not only locally but also internationally. The executive dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Prof David Modise, has been appointed to the interim governing council of the African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI).

Prof Modise will serve as a member of this council for two years, effective from 1 March 2023.

Submitted on Mon, 04/03/2023 - 10:57

Prof Bismark Tyobeka: “It is our responsibility” (SASUF 2023)

On the surface there is little commonality between the two. One is a predominantly homogenous first-world country with a population of 10,5 million people where you are more likely to see the northern lights than a lanky giraffe. It occupies an area of 447,425 km2 . The other is almost thrice as large. Its contours encapsulates 1,221,037 km2  and within it a diverse population of 60,6 million people live in a developing country at the foot of Africa.

Submitted on Fri, 03/31/2023 - 08:03

Dr Shernice Soobramoney: “This is where researchers meet” (SASUF 2023)

It is a crisp Thursday morning and the University of the Western Cape is still without the hustle and bustle that is soon to follow. Dr Shernice Soobramoney, director of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Global Engagement Office comes rushing up the steps of the Jakes Gerwel Hall with smile beaming across her face.

Submitted on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 15:14

Antimicrobial resistance threatens Africa’s future (SASUF 2023)

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a huge threat to Africa’s and, by extension, the world’s health care systems and should be addressed with haste. This according to Prof Carlos Bezuidenhout, director of the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Microbiology (METSI) at the North-West University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

AMR refers to the resistance that microbes develop to certain pharmaceutical drugs.

Submitted on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 13:17

South African Medical Research Council Scientific honours NWU researchers

Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane and Prof Lusilda Schutte of the North-West University (NWU) were recently recognised by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) when they each received a bronze award during the SAMRC’s 9th Scientific Merit Awards gala dinner held in Cape Town on 9 March.

The bronze medals are awarded to scientists who have recently entered the research arena, with at least five years post-PhD experience. While this award is not tied to chronological age, the condition for this award is that researchers should preferably be under the age of 50 years.

Submitted on Thu, 03/30/2023 - 08:03

Teaching entrepreneurs to protect their intellectual property

Entrepreneurs should deal with challenges in their own communities, conduct thorough research, and protect their intellectual capital on their way to monetising their unique ideas.

They received this advice recently when the North-West University (NWU) hosted the 4th annual Intellectual Property and Technology Commercialisation Colloquium under the theme: “Driving innovation and positioning Intellectual Property Commercialisation for post Covid-19 pandemic.”

Submitted on Wed, 03/29/2023 - 15:59

Southern African premiere of Your Hundred Year Life: A Film about Rethinking Ageing in the 21st Century

The North-West University's (NWU's) Optentia research unit and Corporate Relations and Marketing present the Southern African premiere of “Your Hundred Year Life: A Film about Rethinking Ageing in the 21st Century” at Killarney Cinema on 4 April 2023.

Submitted on Mon, 03/27/2023 - 14:56

QS World University Rankings include NWU in two subject areas

The North-West University (NWU) continues to feature in international rankings. The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject includes the NWU in two subject areas: agriculture and forestry, and medicine.

The 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject ranked the NWU in the 351 to 400 category for agriculture and forestry and in the 551 to 600 category for medicine. This is the first year that the NWU has featured in the ranking table for agriculture and forestry.

Submitted on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 12:53