Why did some people experience more severe coronavirus symptoms than others during the Covid-19 pandemic? International researchers believe part of the answer may lie deep within human cells, specifically in the small circular chromosome inside each cell, called the mitochondrial DNA.

Genetic variations in mitochondrial DNA are considered the key to unlocking answers about the innermost workings of cells and mapping the way forward for more effective medical treatment.

A key United Nations agency has shown its confidence in the North-West University (NWU) by relaunching the Chair on Multimodal Learning and Open Educational Resources for a second term of four years.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approved the NWU’s submission for a renewal of the chair, which was initially awarded to the university in 2019. The chair was relaunched in June.

Dr Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD graduate from the North-West University (NWU), has completed promising research on the use of medicinal plants to treat children’s diseases.

Childhood illnesses make a major contribution to infant mortality rates worldwide, and the high cost of conventional treatment exacerbates the problem by putting a financial strain on rural populations.

Located on the roof of building G5 at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Potchefstroom Campus, the solar telescope of the Centre for Space Research has garnered attention from organisations such as the BBC and the Royal Astronomical Society.

Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and principal scientist involved in the project, recently attended the National Astronomy Meeting in Cardiff, Wales, where he was commended for the outstanding work done by the Centre for Space Research.

While debates about the quality of teacher education intensify, the North-West University (NWU) is exploring solutions, including mixed reality, that will ensure that well-prepared and effective teachers enter the country’s classrooms.

The recent findings of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), indicating that 81% of South Africa’s Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, have reignited the debate about the quality of pre-service teacher preparedness in the education sector.

Many studies have found a strong correlation between learners’ discipline levels and academic performance, with the latter improving as discipline levels improve. However, what is the role that parents play in disciplining their children?

The research unit for Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight) recently organised a significant discourse in collaboration with the Legal Perspectives, Governance and Democracy research subarea and the Education Law subject group at the North-West University (NWU).

By Menziwa Msibi

Representatives from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight) research unit, recently embarked on a visit to the University of Crete in Greece to strengthen the two institutions’ longstanding research partnership.

Prof Charl Wolhuter, Prof Ewelina Niemczyk and Prof Johan Botha also participated in the TASTstrategy Conference on Education, aimed at addressing the prevalent issue of skills mismatch between education and employment.

The African Nutrition Leadership Programme (ANLP) of the North-West University (NWU) is continuing its aim to build tailored leadership capacity on the African continent.
Representatives of the ANLP engaged with the Lesotho Nutrition-Sensitive Platform (LSNP) in Maseru on 15 and 16 June. This follows a leadership capacity building visit to Nigeria earlier in the year (to read more, visit: Impact of nutrition project continues through leadership development | news.nwu.ac.za).

The quest for more sustainable and greener coal energy is receiving a boost through the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) renewal of the Chair for Coal Research at the North-West University (NWU).

The chair has secured funding of R4,15 million per year for the next five years as part of the NRF’s South African Research Chairs initiative (SARChI). This adds up to more than R20 million over the full period.