Vanderbijlpark Campus News

NWU alumnus wins prestigious Rural Cricketer of the Year award

One of the most renowned cricketers in the Vaal Triangle has shown that talent, temperament and a love for the game can take a player to great heights. Wikus Botha, the former NWU Vanderbijlpark director of Cricket, was named the Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rural Player of the Year at the 2026 awards ceremony.

This is an incredible achievement for 39-year-old Botha, who successfully balances his role as a player with that of a renowned cricket coach who has a passion for investing in young players.

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NWU lecturer shares water monitoring research in Canada

Drought, record-breaking storms, pollution and global warming. No-one can argue that the environment is not facing challenges. This is why the PhD study of Irene Muller, a lecturer at the School of Education on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark, examines environmental education closely.

As a part of her studies,…

Optentia workshop explains ground-breaking research method

The Optentia research focus area on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark is hosting a workshop on the development and application of the ground-breaking Mmogo-method®.

Prof Vera Roos, professor of psychology at the NWU’s campus in Potchefstroom and developer of the method, will be presenting the workshop on 13 and 14…

Youth day message: You will be known by the choices you make

As South Africans prepare to celebrate Youth Day on 16 June, it is important to take stock of how far the country has come and how far it still has to go. In her message to the campus community, Prof Linda du Plessis, acting rector of the North-West University’s (NWU) campus in Vanderbijlpark, focuses on the importance of choice and more so…

Why board games are more than just fun and games

If you only think of board games in terms of time well spent with family and friends, roll the dice again. Board games and their development play a vital role in how the new generation of learners, the so-called millennials, learn and acquire new information and skills.

 In light of this, a very successful workshop on table-top and…

Florist Yolanda eventually blossoms in education

One cannot help but wonder whether Yolanda Fourie knew in her matric year at the Transvalia High School what was lying ahead in her future. Did she ever while working as florist among the flowers, think about where she would blossom one day? Did it cross her mind that one day she would stand on a stage at a North-West University (NWU) graduation…

NWU committed towards growing its own academic timber

“The North-West University (NWU) is committed to producing professionals to assume advanced careers within academia. Our postgraduate students will be the research leaders, faculty, and professional practitioners of tomorrow and as such the stewards of the university’s ethos of innovative learning and teaching and cutting-edge research.”

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Assistance to Knysna and other storm stricken areas

Members of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus community in Vanderbijlpark are opening their hearts to assist victims of the devastating fires in the Southern Cape.

Staff members are rallying behind national relief efforts by donating non-perishable items, toiletries, blankets and water in support of the victims of the recent…

Youngsters win international Innovation Award for robotics project

Three 11-year old youngsters from Vanderbijlpark – Izabelle Bothma, Ewald Harmse and Wilmar Pretorius – designed a robot that will be able to assist rescuers in finding individuals trapped under snow. Their ingenuity earned them the Innovation Award at the recent Robotics World Championships.

But how does this remarkable invention relate to…

NWU South African Symposium on Teacher Education for Inclusion: All teachers can teach all children

The second South African Symposium on Teacher Education for Inclusion was recently hosted by the Optentia research focus area on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark and the Faculty of Education Sciences on the NWU’s campus in Potchefstroom.

Following the success of the first symposium in 2015, it was clear that…

Crowns, confidence and charisma - Miss & Mr NWU Vaal 2017

If you thought that beauty pageants were just about high fashion and desirability, you have another thing coming. At the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark the annual Miss and Mr NWU Vaal pageant represents a celebration of confidence, charisma and talent.

This year saw the beautiful Palesa Keswa and the charismatic…