World Intellectual Property Day is annually celebrated on 26 April, under the auspices of the United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). This year’s theme was “IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future”.

This year, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office – who are the custodians of intellectual property (IP) at the university – led the celebrations at the three NWU campuses with fun-filled educational events between 20 April and 12 May.

You cannot keep a good man down. Michael Seleka, football manager and head coach of the NWU Tawana at the North-West University’s (NWU) campus in Potchefstroom, sounds dejected as he gives a recap of his team’s performance in the SAFA ABC Motsepe League. The NWU Tawana ended their 2021/2022 campaign in a disappointing seventh position.

In the 2020/2021 season, the NWU Tawana ended in a respectable fourth position on the overall log of nine teams.

The North-West University (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently paid homage to staff members who have served the institution for several years at its annual Long Service Awards event. 

These awards are presented in honour and acknowledgement of staff members who have served the institution with loyalty, dedication and hard work for 10 years and more.

Together with their awards, staff members also receive a financial insensitive, depending on the years of service. 

Ikateleng, a long-running scholar support project of the North-West University (NWU), has received another R2,9 million from the Eskom Development Foundation.

To celebrate the generous donation, the foundation’s CEO, Cecil Ramonotsi, recently joined the NWU’s acting vice-chancellor, Prof Linda du Plessis, at the Ikateleng Centre at the Dr Molefi Oliphant Secondary School in Bophelong.

As part of its community engagement and stakeholder relations, the School of Christian Ministry and Leadership at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently partnered with church leaders in the Vaal area to create a forum to recover and strengthen ethical and moral leadership within the church and community.

North-West University (NWU) master’s student Obriel Maposa has been awarded a Golden Key Humanitarian / Service Response Award.

This award is presented to Golden Key International Honour Society members who display an exceptional commitment to service.

Obriel is among nine Southern African category winners who received Golden Key International Honour Society Awards.

Obriel says Golden Key members are invited to apply for the various award categories, thereby affording them the opportunity to win the relevant award and accompanying cash prizes.

Over the past week the State of Nebraska in the United States of America (USA) has been engulfed in wide spread protest action over its highest courts’ anticipated appeal judgment. This decision will, once in effect, overturn its 1973 landmark judgment affording women the right to choose to legally terminate pregnancies. 

North-West University (NWU) academic and researcher Itumeleng Dinku says South Africa’s Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act of 1996 was a monumental step towards in protecting the right to reproductive autonomy.

Athletes from the North-West University (NWU) – both former and current – were in exceptional form during the recently held Athletics South Africa Senior Track and Field Championships in Green Point, Cape Town.

In all, sixteen medals were won in a variety of codes.

Javelin throwers Johann Grobler and Jo-Ané van Dyk claimed gold, as did 20 km race walkers Marissa Swanepoel and Wayne Snyman. Valco van Wyk leapt the highest of all in the pole vault.

Ontiretse Motingwa

North-West University (NWU) Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola recently shared her expertise by editing the book, Food Security and Safety: African Perspectives, published by Springer, Cham.

The acting vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Linda du Plessis, clearly sets the example after she was awarded her second doctorate in 2020, and has also been praised for the quality of her study by two international academic institutions and associations.