On Monday, 4 December 2023, South Africa’s biggest self-administered medical scheme, Bestmed, hosted a webinar in collaboration with the North-West University (NWU) as part of their Tempo health and wellness programme.

The aim of the event, according to Ms Bonita Maboeta, senior wellness specialist at the NWU, was to raise awareness of and overcome the stigma surrounding the human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Teaching the youth community-based research and transversal skills is a valuable investment in the future. It not only benefits the individual by providing practical skills and a sense of purpose, but also contributes to the growth and well-being of the community. This approach helps generate informed, engaged, and responsible citizens who can actively contribute to improving their communities.

In this spirit, the North-West University (NWU) hosted its first Youth Learning Festival at the Potchefstroom Campus on 18 August.

by Vukosi Mathale

The North-West University (NWU) has taken significant steps to foster innovation and bring research breakthroughs to the market. Central to this effort is the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) Office.

The role of TTIS is to help researchers translate their academic research into practical solutions that have a societal impact. Researchers who believe that their research outputs have the potential to extend beyond the university, should submit an intellectual property (IP) disclosure to the TTIS.

The North-West University (NWU) has recently launched a campaign to address the issue of plastic pollution. The campaign was initiated after the vice-chancellor, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, earlier this year challenged all staff and students to fight plastic pollution.

The launch of the campaign, #BeatPlasticPollution #StopUsingPlasticBottles, took place simultaneously across all three campuses, with events held at the Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management on the Vanderbijlpark Campus recently organised an Industry Day to expose students to human resource management in the workspace.

According to the event organiser, Zama Chacha, the event was aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers human capital and creating lasting networks between industry and academia.

Industry experts from various companies such as Nedbank, Nando’s and Avatar Agency attended the occasion and shared their knowledge and experiences.

By Vukosi Mathale

As a testament to their dedication and commitment to innovation, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) office has been honoured with the esteemed Department of Science and Innovation / Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (DSI/SARIMA) Award for Organisational Excellence in Innovation Management.

The announcement was made during the 2023 SARIMA Connect, Celebrate, Collaborate event held in Johannesburg on 19 October.

Protection Services on the North-West University's (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus hosted an event – Men's conceptualisation of gender-based violence (GBV) – at the campus' Modiri Park.

This initiative was not merely a gathering, but a determined effort to educate students, staff and members of the community about the profound implications of GBV and to equip them with the tools and knowledge to stop GBV on campus.

Moreover, it aimed to encourage open discussions, emphasising the existence of policies and harsh punishments for transgressors.

Postgraduate funding is one of the most elusive resources in the higher-education space. This is why, since his inauguration over a year ago, Prof Bismark Tyobeka has been leading strategic interventions to increase funding for postgraduates in order to alleviate the financial burden of deserving students, particularly those who are categorised as the missing middle.

PVM, a renowned supplier of top-notch nutrition products, paid a visit to the Potchefstroom campus on recently and the North-West University (NWU) embraced the opportunity for an interesting and illuminating relationship. The purpose of this visit was to strengthen the bond between PVM and the NWU, while increasing the performance, general health and sports nutrition of the university's athletes. At the meeting there was a lively exchange of ideas, as well as plans for a potential collaboration.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) has appointed the executive director of the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) at the North-West University (NWU) to serve on its advisory panel on the implementation of the language policy framework for public higher-education institutions.