Human Interest

Student team shines in solutions challenge

A group of North-West University (NWU) students recently participated in an Industry Solutions Challenge at the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC).

For this challenge, postgraduate and undergraduate students had to form teams across institutions and/or campuses, participating in one of four industry-inspired challenges – provided by SATNAC’s top sponsors.

Submitted on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:23

Stability in borrowing costs is positive for consumer confidence

As was widely expected, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) again decided by a vote of three to two to continue to keep interest rates on hold, following a similar decision at the previous meeting of the MPC on 20 July.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU), says this further “hawkish pause” outcome was the right decision by the MPC, taking into account the overall global and domestic factors at present shaping South Africa’s economic environment.

Submitted on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:12

Engineering student scoops first prize in optimisation modeling competition

Hendrik Snyman, a fourth-year industrial engineering student at the North-West University (NWU), emerged as the victor in the recent Operations Research Society of South Africa (ORSSA*) optimisation modeling competition.

The competition, which took place during the tutorial session of this year's 52nd annual ORSSA conference, presented an exciting opportunity for attendees to showcase their optimisation modeling skills. Prof Fanie Terblanche from Elytica presented the competition, and also sponsored the first-place cash prize of R3 500.

Submitted on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 08:29

NWU and GCRA partner to train unemployed youth in solar technology

The North-West University’s (NWU's) Unit for Continuing Education partnered with the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) to launch a solar technician training programme.

Taking place on the Vanderbijlpark Campus, this four-week programme aims to empower young and unemployed individuals. It equips them with work readiness skills, technical expertise, and hands-on experience regarding installing, maintaining and troubleshooting solar panels.

Submitted on Thu, 09/21/2023 - 08:37

2023 Bua! Poetry Slam ignites creative expression

By Menziwa Msibi

The 2023 Bua! Poetry Competition Slam sparked a surge of creativity across the North-West University (NWU). The Creative Writing subject group in the School of Languages launched its inaugural intercampus Bua! Poetry Slam session across the three campuses earlier this year.

The Bua! Poetry Slam featured three distinct poetry competitions, each one hosted on a different campus. The Potchefstroom event took place on 5 April, followed by the competition in Vanderbijlpark on 3 May, and the Mahikeng competition on 25 August.

Submitted on Wed, 09/20/2023 - 15:34

Public lecture examines public leadership and governance in South Africa

The South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM) hosted a public lecture on public leadership and governance in contemporary South Africa on 14 September 2023.

This public lecture was also a commemoration of the late Prof Barry Rhulani Hanyane, a lecturer and well-known political analyst at the NWU’s School of Government Studies. He passed away on 11 May 2022.

Submitted on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 15:02

Staff member and student impress at pharmaceutical conference

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Lesetja Legoabe and student Monique Labuschagne had an impressive showing at the 42nd Academy of Pharmaceutical Science of South Africa (APSSA) Conference.

Prof Legoabe from the Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences received the best publication award for his work titled "Investigation of Quinolone‐Tethered Aminoguanidine as Novel Antibacterial Agents".

Monique, who is affiliated with the NWU’s Preclinical Drug Development Platform, received the best poster award in recognition for her research.

Submitted on Tue, 09/19/2023 - 14:57