The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research niche area will be hosting renowned Kenyan author and scholar, Prof Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, who will deliver a public lecture on 15 August 2024.

During the lecture, titled "The Joycean Paradox revisited: Language empires and literary identity theft", Prof Wa Thiong’o will explore themes related to linguistic imperialism and the impact of colonial languages on literary identity.

Learning a new language can be fun but also challenging as you try to navigate your way through a wondrous world of novel sounds and words. Life has just become a little easier for isiXhosa learners with isiXhosa.click, a new online dictionary for isiXhosa and English.

The Faculty of Health Sciences at North-West University (NWU) recently hosted an Engaged Scholarship Impact Indaba at the Vanderbijlpark Campus.

The dynamic one-day hybrid-event brought together community champions - including academics, community leaders, practitioners and students - to explore the potential of engaged scholarship.

Participants from various sectors shared their experiences and insights, making the Indaba an ideal platform for knowledge exchange and dialogue.

Prof Kenny Uren from the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, highlights the unique nature of this programme.

By Bonolo Monaisa

Students and staff from the North-West University (NWU) recently attended the 28th South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SBMB) Congress in Polokwane on 10 July 2024.

Hosted by the University of Venda, the congress was themed "Biochemistry Leading the Future" and attracted more than 350 delegates from around the globe.

Tsholofelo Moloi, Sinenhlanhla Mthembu, Marakia Moetlediwa and Masibulele Mdutyana were among the students in attendance.

Prof Wannie Carstens, the former director of the School of Languages at the North-West University (NWU), has been awarded the prestigious Jan H Marais Prize for his exceptional contributions to Afrikaans as a scientific language by the Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (the South African Academy of Science and Arts). This is in recognition of his high level and high quality of work, as well as his expert contribution to Afrikaans linguistics.

The School of Languages and the Language Directorate at the North-West University (NWU) are collaborating with the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) to host a Multilingual Symposium.

This symposium, taking place on 29 August, will be the main event at the NWU’s Language Awareness Week that will take place from 26 to 30 August.

Prof Menno van Zaanen, professor in digital humanities at the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU), recently spent a productive two weeks at the University of Gdańsk in Poland to conduct teaching activities and interdisciplinary research in digital humanities.

The North-West University (NWU) boasts another winner of the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans for 2024.  Dr Pieter Odendaal, a senior lecturer in the subject group Creative Writing, was announced a winner in the Arts and Entertainment category.

He joins Dr Monray Williams, a senior lecturer in the subject group Biochemistry, who was announced a winner in the Science, Technology and Innovation category.

 Dr Odendaal views this recognition as an affirmation of his contributions to the arts and the significance of spoken word poetry in South Africa.

The North-West University (NWU) Business School held a think tank on Monday, 8 July, titled SA’s future economy – is it fit for purpose? Prof Piet Croucamp, political analyst and affiliate of the NWU Business School, served as moderator and the panellists comprised Prof Raymond Parsons, Wandile Sihlobo and Christo van der Rheede.