A delegation of academics and researchers from the University of Novi Sad in Serbia, led by Prof Jovana Nikolov and Dr Andrej Vraničar, visited the North-West University's Centre for Applied Radiation Science and Technology (CARST) from 20 to 24 February.

The visit, funded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria, aimed to contribute expertise to the development of best practices in measurement and analysis using gamma spectroscopy and liquid scintillation counter (LSC) techniques.

“Malaria remains a formidable global health challenge with approximately 608 000 deaths attributed to it in 2022, the majority occurring in sub-Saharan Africa,” says Dr Fortunate Mokoena, a senior lecturer in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

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.

When it comes to money, Millennials – also known as Generation Ys* – have mixed feelings. On the one hand, they have a positive attitude to personal financial planning. On the other, they may be more inclined to indulge in discretionary spending, leading to overspending and difficulties in budgeting effectively.

Adding to this dilemma is that Millennials prioritise immediate gratification over long-term financial goals, such as saving for retirement or building an emergency fund, and may be less inclined to seek advice or guidance from financial professionals.

Despite being nutrient-rich and drought-resistant, indigenous foods are often overlooked in food security strategies. North-West University (NWU) student Modjadji Mandy Rasehlomi seeks to change that.

Modjadji, a master’s student in Indigenous Knowledge Systems, has been delving into the untapped potential of indigenous foods to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of No Poverty (SDG 1) and Zero Hunger (SDG 2).

While Africa is a continent with a rapidly growing population of young people, it is crucial for the region to pay attention to the global agenda on ageing.

The United Nations declared the years 2021 to 2030 as the "Decade of Healthy Ageing". This global collaboration, aligned with the last 10 years of the Sustainable Development Goals, seeks to improve the lives of older people, their families and the communities in which they live.

In the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity, the research of North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Lobina Palamuleni has highlighted the urgent need to save water at the workplace and to change how people – especially men – use water.

Prof Palamuleni, from the School of Geo and Spatial Sciences, says water conservation demands immediate attention, particularly the preservation, control and management of water resources.

North-West University (NWU) student Oscar Mosenogi is participating in the 8th International i-Boot Camp hosted by the Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA) from 21 to 25 February.

The Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU) recently collaborated with the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to organise a guest lecture at the Vanderbijlpark Campus in celebration of World Day of Social Justice.

The lecture, titled "Elections, democracy, and citizen participation," was delivered by Sy Mamabolo, the chief electoral commissioner of the IEC. The event also coincided with the proclamation of the general election date – 29 May 2024. This general election will mark 30 years of freedom and democracy in South Africa.

The South African Budget Speech of 21 February – delivered with a tone of optimism and commitment – reveals a government grappling with economic challenges while striving for progress.

Prof Joseph Sekhampu, chief director of the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says that upon closer examination, concerns and unanswered questions emerge.