Awareness and knowledge the weapons against human trafficking

Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women and children fall prey to traffickers, in their own countries and abroad. Unfortunately, human trafficking is also a reality in South Africa.

Victims of trafficking can be any age, gender, race or social standing and…

“Keep moving forward and don’t give up” – Prof Linda du Plessis

“Never view challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it is important for you to understand that facing and overcoming difficulty is actually one of your biggest advantages since it teaches you perseverance, resilience and adaptability.” This is the message from Prof Linda du Plessis, acting campus rector of the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-…

Avril’s entrepreneurial journey from office clerk to organic vegetable grower

Two years ago Avril Bromfield from Henley on Klip took a giant leap of faith: she quit her job in office administration to become a fulltime entrepreneur. Initially she did not start out as an entrepreneurial expert – as is the case with many start-up business owners. Apart from an enormous amount of hard work, starting a business without money…

International research collaboration to focus on female entrepreneurship

Economists, academics alike are in agreement: female entrepreneurs are an under-tapped force that can revive economic growth. Having said this, Natanya Meyer – a lecturer within the School of Economic Sciences on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), will join an international research team to collaborate on a research…

Students invited to apply for postgraduate Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Do you aspire to be a leader who will contribute positively to the development of the African continent? Do you want to pursue postgraduate studies in 2018, and are looking for a fully-funded scholarship opportunity? Do you wish to be part of a life-changing leadership development programme with a diverse group of leaders from across the…

Collaboration paves way to Sharpeville 2020 Development Plan

Creating a better world requires teamwork, partnerships and collaboration, as we need an army of companies to work together to build a better world. This statement by Prof Danie Meyer, senior lecturer in the subject group for Economics on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), sums up the collaborative prowess of the NWU,…

Teacher Education for Inclusion: All stakeholders join hands

The Optentia research focus area on the Vanderbijlpark Campus and the Faculty of Education Sciences on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) is hosting the 2nd Bi-Annual Symposium on Teacher Education for Inclusion in collaboration with De Vlaamse Vereniging voor Ontwikkelingsamenwerking en Technische Bijstand. 

The…

Universities must do more to accommodate risks

In what is being described as required reading for all South African university vice-chancellors and risk managers – especially in light of increasing intimidation and violent disruptions of lectures, seminars, talks by scholars, Senate and Council meetings, a recent opinion article by Prof Hermien Zaaiman of the North-West University’s (NWU)…

Optentia workshop to investigate the work of music as social and restorative intervention

The Optentia Research Focus Area on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) will welcome Dr Carina Venter from Oxford University in England on 22 March this year. Dr Venter will be hosting a workshop entitled: Ambiguous Intervention – The work of music in unequal times.  

The workshop will take the form of a…

Robofest 2017: NWU Vaal takes robotics beyond science class

If the excitement of the South African rendition of Robofest 2017 was anything to go by, then the stage is set for a stellar international championship in June. On Saturday, 4 March 2017, the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) hosted the South African National Robofest 2017 Championship in collaboration with Trophy…