Human Interest

Advocating for sustainable poultry production to ensure food security

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Kenny Mnisi presented a seminar on 20 April 2023 focusing on food security and safety.

The topic of the seminar was “Are we food secured now? If not, let us practise sustainable poultry production!”

According to Prof Mnisi the question is designed to measure the advances that researchers, governments, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and other civil society groups have made in ensuring global food and nutrition security.

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NWU sustainable education project hatches eagles

In a fitting acknowledgement to the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Ikateleng project’s 35 years of dedication to improving education and lives, the university recently welcomed 132 Ikateleng beneficiaries as first-year students across its three campuses in Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.

Ikateleng, which means empower yourself, is a flagship project that support school children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Grade 10 to 12. It provides supplementary teaching in mathematics, economics, business studies, accounting, life science, physical science, and English.

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NWU lecturer brings Kahoot’s awesomeness to the classroom

Kurt Naicker, a senior lecturer and chartered accountant at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Accounting Sciences, recently presented the first virtual annual Kahoot Higher Ed Meetup and 10-year celebration of bringing awesomeness to classrooms worldwide.

Kahoot is a tool that can be used to engage students in the learning process by using gamification techniques. It is an online game-based learning platform that allows educators to create and share interactive quizzes, surveys, and discussions with their students.

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Energy challenge is the biggest threat to economic performance

The rise in the annual consumer price inflation from 7,0% to 7,1% in March was contrary to market expectations, which had been that the consumer price index (CPI) might by now have shown a modest decline to about 6,7%.

According to Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, food prices are the main culprit. “The rate of inflation at 7,1% therefore remains well above the target range of 3% to 6% of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).”

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Celebrity journalist and NWU alumnus traces his ancestors’ steps

Celebrity journalist and alumnus of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, Lesley Mofokeng, recently launched a book, The Man Who Shook Mountains: In the Footsteps of My Ancestors.

Written over three years and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers, the book explores the life of his grandfather, Mongangane Wilfred Mofokeng, a prominent Dutch Reformed Church evangelist. His grandfather built a community in the Gelukspan area in Ditsobotla, North-West after black landowners were evicted in the 1950s from the cities to live in reserves and homelands.

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The way to a (Ful)bright future

On Thursday, 4 April, a delegation from the United States (US) consulate in Johannesburg visited the North-West University (NWU) as part of their project to recruit students for and inform them about the prestigious and world-renowned Fulbright Program.

The delegation presented an information session about Fulbright opportunities, which took place at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, but was also streamed to the Vanderbijlpark and Mahikeng Campus.

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Becoming a professor at a time of decolonisation

Prof Emmanuel Mfanafuthi Mgqwashu, the director of the Centre for Higher Education Professional Development at the North-West University (NWU), recently delivered his inaugural lecture on the Potchefstroom Campus.

The topic of his lecture was “A timely question: How can we not talk about becoming a professor in the context of decolonising higher education?”

During this lecture, Prof Mgqwashu drew from his 26 years of experience in the academia and shared critical reflections on his journey to becoming a professor.

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NWU Eagles are Varsity Cup champions!

They came, they saw, and they conquered. The North-West University (NWU) Eagles are the newly crowned Varsity Cup champions after beating Ikeys from the University of Cape Town (UCT) 27-25 at the Fanie du Toit Sport Grounds in Potchefstroom on Monday night, 17 April 2023.

The half-time score read 20-9 for the Eagles. This marks the first time the NWU Eagles won the trophy since 2016, and the second time overall.

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