The legacy and impact of former President Nelson Mandela in changing people’s lives for the better remain a milestone to aspire to.

News24 recently selected their Young Mandelas for 2024 ─ celebrating a new generation of young champions who are committed to building the South Africa of Madiba’s dreams.

Ian Thomson, a PhD student and lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering of the North-West University (NWU), is one of these 30 exceptional young people chosen for their remarkable achievements. He was named winner in the innovation category.

Prof Kenny Uren from the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, highlights the unique nature of this programme.

South Africans must have ownership of nuclear technology.

Without properly trained people, South Africa will face a major problem with the nuclear waste.

South Africa should not rely on others when it comes to nuclear safety and decommissioning.

It all starts at the North-West University (NWU), and the Faculty of Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus has risen to the occasion to fulfil that mission. For many years, the goal of the biennial Engineering Week has been to introduce high school learners from Grade 8 to 12 to engineering as a fascinating career.

This year the project ran from 2 to 5 July, welcoming learners from across South Africa and neighbouring countries as they started an interactive and engaging learning experience at the engineering facilities of the NWU.

The annual #BeerAndCheese initiative, organised by the School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering at the North-West University (NWU), sparks creativity and entrepreneurial skills among students.

The Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) prides itself on its cutting-edge innovations and research. One of the faculty’s internal corporate ventures called STRIDE is unique in that it is able to timeously produce business-ready solutions for everyday challenges.

STRIDE, which was founded in 2022, recently rebranded itself and was launched at the Faculty of Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus on 11 June.

When one thinks about Mercedes-Benz, images of class, power, prestige and the well-known and loved brand immediately come to mind. Prof Chris van Schoor, project manager and industrial engineering consultant, was the project lead overseeing a significant construction and infrastructure update at the Mercedes-Benz automative assembly plant in East London, South Africa.

Transitioning to green energy is not only important to fight climate change, but is essential for sustainable economies. The biggest and one of the busiest ports in Europe, Port Rotterdam, and the City of Rotterdam in the Netherlands are establishing a hydrogen hub as part of a hydrogen ecosystem to reduce carbon emissions and take the port and the city into the future.

The North-West University (NWU) has received eight nominations for this year’s prestigious NSTF-South32 Awards. It is another feather in the University’s cap in its pursuit of excellence without boundaries.

The NSTF-South 32 Awards, also known as the ‘Science Oscars’, is the largest, most comprehensive and one of the most coveted national awards.  It recognises outstanding contributions in science, engineering and technology (SET) and innovation by individuals, teams and organisations.

The NWU is proud of this year’s nominees, who include:

Professor Quentin Campbell from the Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) has an eloquent, soft-spoken way with words. Therefore, when he said, “it is time to make mining sexy”, the attendees at the NWU’s first ever mining indaba immediately took note with a chuckle.

Prof Campbell was serving as moderator during a group discussion, and his quick wit summed up a few of the delegates’ comments. The NWU’s mining indaba served to bring together leaders in the mining industry with the NWU to discuss establishing a mining school in the Rustenburg area.