South African researchers are increasingly looking for innovative ways to improve health outcomes, particularly as the country faces rising rates of obesity, diabetes and other metabolic diseases. A new research chair, the first for biochemistry at the North-West University (NWU), aims to make an impact on the lives of people suffering from metabolic ailments.
The North-West University (NWU) has reached a decisive milestone in establishing the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine following the accreditation of its Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) programme by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).
The CHE confirmed the accreditation in correspondence dated 21 August 2026. The six-year, 940-credit programme will be offered in contact mode at the Potchefstroom Campus.
North-West University (NWU) researcher Dr Charity Masilela put public health research at the university on an international platform when she received the Best Poster Presenter Award at the 12th International Conference on Public Health, held in Bali, Indonesia, from 5 to 7 August 2026.
Mental health care inequalities in South Africa took centre stage when the North-West University (NWU) academic Prof. Leepile Sehularo earned the place of second runner-up for the best oral presentation at the Ubuntu Nursing Colloquium, hosted by the University of Pretoria on 12 August 2026.
Two naturally occurring compounds, Moringa oleifera and coenzyme Q10, could help reduce liver damage caused by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), according to research by the North-West University (NWU). AFB1 is a toxin linked to contaminated food supplies and an increased risk of liver disease.
By Mafumane Tlhapi and Bongile Nonyukela
While gaining practical experience through community engagement, social work students and nursing teams from the North-West University (NWU) are using menstrual health education to address barriers that prevent girls from fully participating in school.
Research from the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) has been selected as an Editor's Choice article by the international journal Children.
Parents often focus on academic achievement, but one of the most powerful influences on a child's development is something far simpler: meaningful social interaction. According to Linique Hanekom, a speech-language therapist at the Centre for Health & Human Performance in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), everyday interactions such as talking, playing and responding to children are fundamental to their language development, emotional wellbeing and ability to build healthy relationships.
Talent alone is not enough to take a team or individual to peak performance in sport, but talent combined with science can take athletes and sportspeople farther and faster, according to the Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) of the North-West University (NWU).
The School of Human Movement Science at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus is celebrating the achievements of six students who were selected for the 2026 National Winter School Sport Championships, held from 11 to 13 July 2026 in the Eastern Cape.
The initiative provided students with a unique opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom in a real sporting environment while strengthening their professional skills and industry readiness.