Awards and accolades

Vanderbijlpark Campus celebrates PhD graduates

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus 2023 winter graduations ended with a special congratulatory ceremony for PhD graduates, hosted by Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations.

This event followed the 18 PhD graduates’ graduation ceremony where NWU principal and vice-chancellor Prof Bismark Tyobeka conferred their degrees upon them at the new Tsebonokeng Hall.

Submitted on Mon, 06/05/2023 - 12:49

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

Canoe champ Chris is crushing it

Chris Prinsloo was but five years old when his family uprooted from Belville in Cape Town to the United Kingdom, then back to the heart of KwaZulu-Natal a few years after, before settling in the Paarl, back in the province where it all started.

His father’s job as a psychiatrist necessitated all these moves, but although his terra firma kept changing, there was one place where he found his footing: in the water.

Submitted on Wed, 05/31/2023 - 08:47

NWU lauds staff and students for promoting its values and brand

Living the North-West University (NWU) way means to be value-driven and proud. During a prestige event on 25 May the university rewarded dedicated staff and students for promoting and enhancing its culture and strategy.

The NWU’s first Media and Organisational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) Recognition Awards ceremony took place at the Roots function venue in Potchefstroom. Eighteen key influencers received recognition for their valued contributions as brand ambassadors, both internally and externally. Each of the recipients received a trophy, accompanied by a cash prize.

Submitted on Fri, 05/26/2023 - 11:04

NWU ascends to top 4,4% of global universities

The continued climb of the North-West University (NWU) in global rankings has taken it to the top 4,4% of global universities. This is according to the 2023 edition of the Global 2000 list of rankings published by the Center for World University Rankings (CWUR). It is an improvement from being in the top 4,5% for 2022/2023 and in the top 4,7% in the 2021/2022 edition of the rankings.

This impressive achievement was published on 15 May on the cwur.org website. The NWU was ranked according to academic performance among 20 531 universities worldwide.

Submitted on Tue, 05/16/2023 - 10:22

NWU dancers twirl their way to the top

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) ballroom and Latin dance team on the Mahikeng Campus secured no less than 24 trophies and 14 medals in the South African Dance Federation Championship Super Series that took place at the Springs Civic Centre in Gauteng on 22 April.

More than 30 well-established dance teams participated in the competition, representing community dance studios, as well as university and school teams. Ten couples competed in the Bronze, Silver, Gold Star, Rising Star, and Championship sections of the tournament.

Submitted on Tue, 05/09/2023 - 15:10

The BUA! Poetry Slam competition fuels creativity

The North-West University’s (NWU's) Creative Writing subject group in the School of Languages recently hosted its very first BUA! Poetry Slam at the NWU Gallery on the Potchefstroom Campus.

More than 100 students showed up to the first of three events across campuses before the intercampus final. The second preliminary, scheduled for 3 May 2023, will be held on the Vanderbijlpark Campus, and the third one will be held in August on the Mahikeng Campus.

The winners from each campus will then take part in the final poetry slam at the end of the year.

Submitted on Fri, 04/21/2023 - 14:40

Celebrity journalist and NWU alumnus traces his ancestors’ steps

Celebrity journalist and alumnus of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, Lesley Mofokeng, recently launched a book, The Man Who Shook Mountains: In the Footsteps of My Ancestors.

Written over three years and published by Jonathan Ball Publishers, the book explores the life of his grandfather, Mongangane Wilfred Mofokeng, a prominent Dutch Reformed Church evangelist. His grandfather built a community in the Gelukspan area in Ditsobotla, North-West after black landowners were evicted in the 1950s from the cities to live in reserves and homelands.

Submitted on Tue, 04/18/2023 - 15:16

Best paper award for NWU academic

North-West University academic Dr Ankit Katrodia’s paper – titled “Generation Y’s perception towards and actual usage of African language radio Stations in South Africa” – recently earned him the Best Paper Award at the 3rd International Conference on Leveraging Industry 5.0: Sustainability, Innovation and Disruption that took place in Mumbai, India.

In the paper, co-authored by Dr Katrodia and his master’s student, Nkosinathi Ntuli, Dr Katrodia said that radio broadcasting is the most consumed form of broadcast media in the world.

Submitted on Fri, 04/14/2023 - 11:38