Human Interest

Students deliver stellar performance in BRICS Skills competition

A team of students from the North-West University (NWU), under the guidance of computer scientist and lecturer Dr Japie Greeff, recently participated in the BRICS Skills competition in China in the Data Analysis and Visualisation and Machine Learning and Big Data categories.

More than 138 participants from over 60 universities in 13 countries participated in the event, and the NWU walked away with various medals and awards.

Submitted on Tue, 03/05/2024 - 11:49

Leaders in nutrition aim for zero hunger, good health and quality education for Africa

The double burden of malnutrition – undernutrition and obesity happening at the same time – affects most low- and middle-income countries. In Africa, which has a complicated food system, it poses complex health challenges that need to be addressed by nutrition professionals on the continent.

The African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) has for 22 years played a pivotal role in leadership capacity building and the development of early- and mid-career nutrition professionals and institutions, not only locally, but also on the rest of the African continent.

Submitted on Tue, 03/05/2024 - 08:56

Oscar is amplifying the voice of South African youth in Russia

North-West University (NWU) student Oreneile Oscar Mosenogi has been chosen to represent the South Africa at the prestigious World Youth Festival in Sochi, Russia from 29 February to 8 March 2024.

Oscar is currently serving as the stakeholder relations officer of SABYA.

The World Youth Festival is the largest l youth event in the world and offers a platform for open conversation and opinion exchange to foster collaboration and to address critical global youth issues.

Submitted on Mon, 03/04/2024 - 15:46

Eagles continue to flex their Varsity Cup muscles

Two rounds and two resounding wins. The North-West University (NWU) Eagles gave their home crowd at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds enough to cheer about as they beat the University of the Western Cape (UWC) 49–15 in their Varsity Cup clash.

A purple wave of six tries washed over the visitors and the tide was firmly in the Eagles’ favour. Telling is the – perhaps mournful – fact that a number of opportunities for the home team went to waste. The Eagles should have won by a bigger margin, and they will be the first to admit it.

Submitted on Thu, 02/29/2024 - 08:59

Collaboration with Servian researchers to focus on nuclear science advancements

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.

Submitted on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 12:01

Collaborating with NGOs to combat substance use disorder

In a collaborative effort to address the pressing issue of substance use disorder, the North-West University (NWU), in partnership with the Resurrection Hope Foundation and Ultrapex Sustainable Project, hosted a campaign event on 24 February.

Prof Lebogang Katata-Seru, acting deputy dean in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, represented the NWU at the event themed “Be a Hero, Be Drug Zero”.

Submitted on Fri, 03/01/2024 - 08:56

Exploring new frontiers in malaria treatment: unveiling potential drug candidates

“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.

Submitted on Thu, 02/29/2024 - 11:57

Official academic opening focuses on empowering excellence in 2024 and beyond

The overarching message from the principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Bismark Tyobeka, was one of optimism, gratitude and determination during the official opening of the 2024 academic year on Friday, 23 February.

The official ceremony took place at the Potchefstroom Campus, with a live broadcast to the Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses.

Submitted on Wed, 02/28/2024 - 11:22

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

Research gives insight into Generation Y’s finance and banking behaviour

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.

Submitted on Tue, 02/27/2024 - 15:32