North-West University academic and researcher Prof Lebo Gafane-Matemane recently attended the 14th HOPE Meeting with Nobel Laureates from 27 February to 3 March 2023 in Tsukuba City, Japan.

She was nominated by the National Research Foundation (NRF), together with Dr Ncediwe Ndube-Tsolekile from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

The HOPE meetings have been organised by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) since 2008, aiming to advance science and technology in the Asia-Pacific and Africa region.

Dr Marelize Vergottini, a senior lecturer in social work at the North-West University (NWU) recently presented a group work framework that is focused on positive discipline for addressing behaviour issues among primary school students from grades 5 to 7.

This was during a social work practice seminar for school social workers hosted by the Gauteng Province Social Development Department on 3 March.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to feature in international rankings. The latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject includes the NWU in two subject areas: agriculture and forestry, and medicine.

The 2023 QS World University Rankings by Subject ranked the NWU in the 351 to 400 category for agriculture and forestry and in the 551 to 600 category for medicine. This is the first year that the NWU has featured in the ranking table for agriculture and forestry.

Rare diseases are more common than you might think. It sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Not to the 4,1 million South Africans who have been or will be affected by rare diseases in their lifetime. For many it can be a death sentence, for others it is a life-altering diagnosis. Not only is the North-West University (NWU) committed to ensuring that rare diseases are detected as early as possible, but it also has a myriad of initiatives to combat their effects.

North-West University (NWU) staff member Mamello Maema has recently been selected as one of the 100 Brightest Young Minds in the World Food Programme (WFP) for Southern Africa.

Mamello says the programme aims to build networks across Africa for young and upcoming leaders from various spheres allowing them to connect, inspire and innovate.

This year’s summit was co-hosted with the World Food Programme Southern Africa. The theme of the event was “Connect, Inspire, Impact: Solutions to Food Systems Challenges”.

A courtroom can be a daunting place ― especially for a child. Young victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse have to deal not only with their trauma but also with court proceedings, cross-examination and giving testimony in an environment that they can perceive as hostile and scary.

This is where social workers in the field of forensic practice make a difference. They not only provide the emotional support and guidance to prepare child victims for the demands of court proceedings, but also serve as expert witnesses in building a strong case against perpetrators.

In collaboration with the provincial Department of Health, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) hosted the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Research Day at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) on 2 November. This was the first such event held since 2017 and was a resounding success, with representatives from all four districts in North West and about 250 people in attendance.

South African teachers are battling acute stress as a result of their work environment. This is according to a recent Teaching and Learning International Survey (Talis) report.

The Talis survey gathers responses from teachers and school leaders to help countries address a variety of challenges. The report was released by the Department of Basic Education following a survey conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The survey revealed more than a quarter of teachers in the country have no desire to remain in the field.

Zambia’s economy is built on mining, especially copper. Like all mining activities, copper mining has health risks associated with it. A shortage of formal occupational hygiene expertise and capacity can leave a void in the protection of miners from occupational diseases such as silicosis. A researcher at the North-West University (NWU) is aiming to make a difference by developing occupational hygiene capacity for Zambian mines.

Miracle workers who have to dig deep to find magical solutions to solve problems – this is how Prof Elmien Truter describes the social work students the North-West University (NWU) send into the communities.

Prof Truter, an associate professor in Social Work and a researcher at the research focus area Community Psychosocial Research (Compres) on the Vanderbijlpark Campus, said this after witnessing the second-year students declaring that they will adhere to the ethics and standards of their profession.