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.

On 17 August, Professor Marius Smit from the Faculty of Education delivered his inaugural lecture, titled The symphony of seeds and harvest – harmonising the law, policy, and interventions to cultivate quality education.

In his lecture Prof Smit said that the harmonisation and proper robust application of the law, good policies and interventions can orchestrate an education system that will improve the quality of education in the country.

He illustrated this by highlighting the following points:

An inaugural lecture is regarded as a significant milestone in the life and career of an academic. It is a chance for new professorial colleagues to directly showcase their innovative research.

Professor Charlene du Toit-Brits delivered her inaugural lecture titled Are we there yet? A sense of ownership: Empowering Self-Directed Students in Higher Education.

The word of welcome was expressed by Professor Erika Serfontein, acting school director of the School of Professional Studies in Education (SPSE).

The Faculty of Education at the North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus officially launched the "Busy Bee Kindness Corner" community engagement project on 14 August.

Dr Elize Küng, deputy dean for community engagement and stakeholder relations in the faculty and champion of the project, says the idea for the project came about during a visit to the Kortrijk Campus of the VIVES University of Applied Sciences in Belgium.

By Menziwa Msibi

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus played host to an article writing workshop that took place from 24 to 26 July to develop staff members’ proficiency in the writing of high-quality articles.

The workshop not only focused on experienced writers of academic articles, but also welcomed those who were less familiar with the realm of writing.

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.

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?

By Nolwazi Xulu

Mapule Sechogo, a former North-West University student and first-time entrant in the National Teachers Awards recently defied the odds when she won the Excellence in Primary School Teaching category at the awards ceremony held at the Naledi Local Education Office of the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality.

“It was my first time participating in the prestigious National Teachers Awards, and to my delight, I was announced top performer in this category,” she said.

The Faculty of Education at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus will be launching its “Busy Bee Kindness Corner” community engagement project on 14 August.

Dr Elize Küng, deputy dean for community engagement and stakeholder relations in the faculty and champion of the project, says the aim is to encourage staff and students to donate any unused stationery or materials at the Busy Bee Kindness Corner which will be situated in Building A16, room 123.