Feature Article (Main Article on NWU News Page)

First-year engineering students unite to celebrate International Mother Language Day

It was a fun-filled, educational, and fascinating day for the first-year engineering students, with activities varying from learning a novel word in a different language to answering the question: “Why did you choose to study Engineering?” in their mother tongue. As these students come from multilingual societies that practise translanguaging, they could communicate relatively effortlessly with one another.

Submitted on Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:07

NWU Enterprises: A new commercial frontier

“We are on a journey.” Duncan Raftesath’s elbows are resting on the desk in front of him, his hands clasped together, and as he speaks, his smile widens. “We are on a very exciting journey,” the project manager of NWU Enterprises reaffirms with contagious energy.

If all goes according to plan, the expedition that Duncan Raftesath is referring to will pending Council approval – lead to the establishment of NWU Enterprises (Pty) Ltd within a year.

Submitted on Wed, 02/21/2024 - 10:20

The Hillensberg Trust is the gift that keeps giving

For the past seven years, the Hillensberg Trust has made the dreams of several North-West University (NWU) students come true.

Celeste Rossouw, acting director for development and fundraising explains that the trust increased its grant amount by one million, which means this year the NWU can put four million to good use to assist approximately 35 students.

Submitted on Wed, 02/21/2024 - 10:01

Take a bow, Graphic Design, you have made us proud – again

Excellence seems to follow the Graphic Design subject group at the North-West University (NWU), which has a well-deserved reputation for walking off with the top honours in national and international competitions.

They are continuing this winning streak with top positions in the recently released Loeries official rankings for Africa and the Middle East. These rankings have placed the NWU among the top four educational institutions for 2023.

Submitted on Wed, 02/14/2024 - 08:39

Prof Kedibone Phago: Jacob Zuma is stealing the ANC’s legacy

Using the name uMkhonto weSizwe is to a large degree unethical.

The ANC must produce statesmen, not politicians.

He’s back, and as controversial as ever. The reemergence of former South African president, Jacob Zuma as a political role player is causing the party he once led no shortage of headaches at a time when they can least afford it.

The 2024 national election is going to be a watershed moment for the governing ANC, but their grip on power is slipping as coalition parties have their sights set on unseating the three-decades long incumbent.

Submitted on Tue, 02/13/2024 - 09:12

SONA 2024: there is still “unfinished business” on the national agenda

There is still much “unfinished business” on the national agenda, including a more coherent overall economic plan for much higher job-rich inclusive growth.

In commenting on the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, points out that, as expected, prior to the 2024 elections the SONA was inevitably largely a party-political statement and also took stock of the government’s achievements over the decades.

Submitted on Fri, 02/09/2024 - 11:18

South Africa is squandering its export opportunities

  • It is peak export season for the fruit industry and there is still a backlog of exports.
  • The impact of the logistics crises caused by Transnet and the ports are having far-reaching negative consequences.
  • Export industries are pleading for a chance to help, but government is unwilling to get out of the way.

Administrative chaos and shipping queues that last for days.

Submitted on Tue, 02/06/2024 - 10:27