Humanities

Backyard garden partnership springs up in time for Nelson Mandela Day

In an era where food insecurity is a pressing concern, community gardens offer a practical solution by increasing access to fresh, nutritious food. These gardens empower individuals and communities to take control of their food production, reducing dependence on expensive and often unhealthy store-bought alternatives.

All this is captured in the 2023 Nelson Mandela Day theme, which centres on food and nutrition and urges everyone to “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”.

Submitted on Tue, 07/04/2023 - 11:01

Explore South Africa's unique and intriguing heritage

Have you ever pondered the significance of a monument by the roadside? Perhaps you have stopped in a town on a road trip and wondered where the town's points of interest were. Travellers once used guidebooks and maps, but those days are long gone thanks to apps such as the Road Trip SA app.

By collaborating with Emile Coetzee, a North-West University (NWU) historian, South African company Value Apps Pty Ltd developed this app to help travellers explore the fascinating and mysterious places of interest throughout southern Africa.

Submitted on Tue, 07/04/2023 - 10:16

Faculty of Humanities embraces teaching with technology

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Humanities (FHUM) recently hosted a Teaching with Technology Showcase on the Potchefstroom Campus.

More than 40 academics representing the six schools in the faculty attended this face-to-face event, allowing lecturers the opportunity to demonstrate how they actively use technology in their modules and to learn from one another.

Submitted on Mon, 06/12/2023 - 16:18

NWU graduate: age is just a number

Annemarie van Heerden's story is inspiring and demonstrates that age should never hold you back from achieving your academic goals. She made history by becoming the oldest graduate to walk across the stage at the new Tsebonokeng Hall at the North-West University's (NWU’s) Vandebijlpark Campus during a recent graduation ceremony.

At the age of 66, Annemarie received an honours degree in psychology, an amazing accomplishment considering she took a 42-year break after obtaining her honours degree in music from Stellenbosch University in 1980.

Submitted on Fri, 06/02/2023 - 08:44

History subject group hosts a seminar on Umkhonto we Sizwe

The subject group History at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted Prof Thula Simpson, associate professor of history at the University of Pretoria, as part of the group’s seminar series.

Prof Simpson is also a British scholar who holds a PhD from Birkbeck, University of London, and is the author of the acclaimed book, Umkhonto we Sizwe: The ANC's Armed Struggle.

During the seminar Prof Simpson presented a paper titled “Umkhonto we Sizwe and its Historians: Action, Reaction and Counteraction, c. 1963 to the Present”.

Submitted on Thu, 05/18/2023 - 11:08

Recognition of Sign Language a progress step for inclusivity

North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Moses Phooko has lauded the National Assembly’s approval of South African Sign Language as the 12th official language on 2 May 2023.

The South African Constitution previously provided for 11 official languages, which include Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, and isiZulu.

The adoption of this amendment brings the number of official languages in South Africa to 12, once the President signs the Bill into law.

Submitted on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 07:18