NWU academic talks small but tangible
North-West University (NWU) academic and now full professor in microbial biotechnology, Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola, delivered her inaugural lecture titled “Small but tangible, let the feasting begin” on 18 May 2018. In attendance at the public lecture was Prof Sonia Swanepoel, who attended on behalf of the NWU vice-chancellor, Prof…
UARM delivers five master’s graduandi during Autumn Graduation Ceremony
The Autumn Graduation Ceremony of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark saw the Centre for Applied Risk Management (UARM) celebrate the graduation of five MARM graduates. These graduates represent the third cohort of MARM alumni since the inception of the two-year part-time programme in 2014. “We are extremely proud of…
NWU discusses the virtue of rice
With a number of farmers in the North-West province currently struggling to produce maize due to climate change and global warming, it is clear that South Africa needs crop diversification in order to promote food security. The North-West University (NWU), together with the North West Department of Agriculture (NWDA), is in the process of…
Faculty of Engineering: Towards an integrated energy approach
Energy needs across the globe are rising while fossil fuels are being depleted. Since fossil fuels result in various detrimental emissions, new and renewable energy sources can alleviate the drain on our natural resources and help in the mitigation of the harmful emissions. Viewed in isolation, neither of these energy sources may solve the…
Aksiegebaseerde navorsing lei tot positiewe omgewingsverandering
Klimaatsverandering is nie iets wat ver weg, in ander streke en met ander mense gebeur nie – dit is ’n verskynsel wat ’n impak op almal, oral het. Dit is ’n les waaraan graad 7-leerders blootgestel word deur middel van ’n navorsingsprojek waarby navorsers van die Noordwes-Universiteit (NWU) se kampus in Vanderbijlpark betrokke is. Hierdie…
Action-based research brings positive environmental change
Climate change is not something that happens at a distance, to other regions and other people, but is a phenomenon that has an impact on everyone, everywhere. This is a lesson that grade 7 learners are being exposed to through a research project involving researchers from the North-West University’s (NWU's) campus in Vanderbijlpark. This…
Model proposes innovative approach to performance management in the public sector
John Bester knows the value of innovative performance management: a concept that he has applied in a study towards his PhD degree in public management and governance from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark. In his theses, “Innovative performance management in the public sector in Botswana: towards a new model”, John…
Study explores resilient children from divorced homes
They say that children are the ones who suffer most when a couple goes through a divorce. This however, does not need to be the norm. During the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremony of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark, the focus fell on the doctoral thesis of Carla Bezuidenhout – a PhD graduate who scrutinised ways in…
The NWU shines with 13 ‘Science Oscar’ finalists
Thirteen of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) esteemed researchers and academics are finalists for the prestigious annual awards of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF). The NSTF-South32 Awards, also known as the ‘Science Oscars’, are sought after each year by the who’s who of science, engineering, technology and innovation in…
Faculty of Engineering brings industrial innovation to Delmas
Innovation is heading to Delmas and the Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) is at the helm. The German-based conglomerate Siemens, in conjunction with Eskom, approached Hasan Darwish, an industrial engineer at the Faculty of Engineering, early in 2018 to assist with a project that will introduce industrial engineering to…
Passion for environment culminates into insightful doctoral study
Irene Muller obtained her PhD degree in development and management at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark. Irene’s passion for the environment culminated into an insightful study. In her thesis titled “A citizen science water quality monitoring project’s contribution to…
Faculty of Engineering investigates the mystery of artificial intelligence
The Multilingual Speech Technologies (MuST) research group is a research niche area associated with the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Engineering. It focusses on machine learning and statistical pattern recognition, as well as their application in speech technologies. Over the years, the group has been involved in various speech…
"Green coal": fuel of the future
Coal in its traditional form might soon be a relic of the past, but ground-breaking research by the North-West University (NWU) is showing how a face-lift to this fossil fuel has numerous safe, green possibilities. A revolutionary process to manufacture “green” coal that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions by up to 80% is being…
Stable interest rates necessary for South Africa's economic recovery
According to renowned economist Prof Raymond Parsons from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Business School, stable interest rates are necessary for as long as possible to avoid choking off South Africa’s incipient economic recovery. “As widely expected, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the SA Reserve Bank (SARB) unanimously opted to…
Master class workshop on sport psychology
“Whether you work with individuals and teams on school, national or international level, the aim is always to exercise the most important muscle in the human body, namely the brain.” With these words Janko Kotze and Ian Chauvet from Human Interest – a leading business consulting firm, welcomed the master’s students of the School of Industrial…
NWU alumna named as first Burke scholar
The inaugural Burke Scholarship, aimed at advancing democracy by developing promising young journalists, has been awarded to Khethokuhle Ayanda Mthethwa, from Tsakane, Gauteng. Ayanda is an alumna of the North-West University (NWU) and obtained her BA Communication degree at the university’s campus in Vanderbijlpark. “Journalism is a…
Study investigates the importance of the ring
It is every girl’s dream to say “I do”! Negotiating the lobola and showing off a big diamond ring is certainly part and parcel of the entire process. But how many of these girls end up truly happy? Victoria Bukelwa Segami obtained her PhD at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremonies on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark…
Investigating the heartbeat of social support for cardio patients
Quality healthcare remains a concern in our country, even more so against the backdrop of the disadvantaged facing day-to-day socio-economic constraints. The study that lead to a PhD degree for Piet Phillip Nhlanhla, took a step in addressing some of these concerns. Piet obtained his PhD at the recent Autumn Graduation Ceremony of the North-…
Study examines pressures of young adult diabetes
The challenges that come with adolescence and the pressure of school is well known. Add a chronic illness that requires constant management, and this will certainly add to the load. Marietjie Willemse recently obtained her PhD degree at the Autumn Graduation Ceremony North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark with a study that…