NEWS

Balfour is new Dean at Education Sciences
A new Dean for the Faculty of Education Sciences has just been appointed. Prof. Robert Balfour (39) will assume office from 1 January 2011. Balfour was the registrar of St Augustine College of South Africa. Read more

Largest twin-screw extruder—built in Africa for Africa
The largest twin-screw extruder, built and developed in South Africa, was unveiled on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University on Tuesday 30 November 2010. The Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM) Technologies Pty Ltd, developed and built the extruder on the Potchefstroom Campus for Feedpro, a subsidiary of Profert. Read more

SARChI supports Nuclear research
The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) approved the appointment of a SARChI Chair in Nuclear Engineering at the North-West University for the next five-year cycle from January 2011 to December 2015. For the Engineering Faculty this is a great research opportunity as the main aim of SARChI is to strengthen scientific research leadership and capacity. Read more

Hattingh does best M study on coal
A Master’s degree student at the School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University recently received an award for the highest marks in his M studies in coal in South Africa.  Burgert Hattingh received this award, Academic advancement Award, from FFF (Fossil Fuel Foundation). Read more

Aeroplane design rouses wide publicity
A PhD student at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University recently received wide publicity for his research on aeroplane structures without a tail end. Joachim Huyssen started his research as undergraduate student in 1989. “The results of the study can have a radical impact on the aviation industry. Read more

NWU once more of the best in the country
North-West University (NWU) has for the fifth consecutive year been nominated one of the five best Graphic Design Training institutions in the country. This year NWU missed the top position (held by Tuks) with only four points. The announcement was made during the South African Brand Design Council’s annual Sappi Thinkahead award in Johannesburg. Read more

Prof tackles Antarctica as 100th marathon
He already has done 99 marathons and plans on making the hundredth one a huge one. Prof. Gary van Vuuren, an Extraordinary Professor at the School of Economics, knows what perseverance entails. His biggest challenge thus far, is to complete a marathon, on the coldest, highest, windiest and driest continent in the world, Antarctica. Read more

Faculty drives international conference
The Faculty of Education Sciences at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University is making preparations for hosting a gigantic international conference. This international conference on research, development and training in the early phase of education, starts on 1 February on this Campus. Read more

Swimming SA want to invest in Puk
Due to the Campus’ superb sport facilities, Swimming South Africa has identified North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus as a strategic partner to help promote swimming as a professional sport in the province, as well as nationally. According to Swimming SA’s President, Jace Naidoo, their request is that NWU Pukke integrates with their long-term output-driven strategic plan. Read more

Stoffberg’s passion is sport
James Younger Stoffberg points at the two single benches away from his desk. Left leg crossed over right leg, hands folded into each other. The deputy president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU) looks serious. Read more

Eugene Thipe – new sprinting coach
Cast a quick glance at the NWU-Pukke’s athletic arsenal for the 2011 season, and the image that emerges is one of prodigiously talented students, aided by the best of facilities, under the tutelage of some of the country’s leading experts in their respective fields. It is a galvanised team and a well-oiled machine. Read more

Pukke affords learners a unique opportunity
The North-West University’s Puk Campus identified a unique opportunity for one of Potchefstroom’s primary schools, and did not let this development opportunity slip through its fingers. A primary school will soon be afforded the opportunity to welcome a one-time taking in of approximately 200 new learners. Read more

Smuts delivers inaugural speech on nutrition research
Prof Marius Smuts, associated with the School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University, recently delivered his inaugural speech. The title of his discourse was, Nutrition research is a study to restore balance. Read more

Nursing promotes international collaboration
The School of Nursing recently was the host for the fourth annual meeting of the meeting of the Executive Committee (EXCO) of the international research and research capacity building programme, “Strengthening Nurses' Capacity in HIV Policy Development in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean”. Read more

NWU Puk fills position at ISAK World Congress
Professor Hans de Ridder, President of the International Society for the Advancement of Kin anthropometry (ISAK), has just returned from ISAK’s World Congress held in November in Estoril, Portugal. Read more

Puk empowers nurses
The School of Nursing at NWU’s  Potchefstroom Campus has just recently made a badly needed contribution by developing the skills of South African nursing staff and in doing so, training them in management positions. Read more

Art Management Programme presents unique opportunities
“The arts are the heart of community development in these times of change in which we live. Go out and work in your communities.”  This was the message of the Director of Puk Arts, Mr. Horst Bütow, during the certificate handing over occasion of 22 learners that each received a certificate in arts administration. Read more

Drop in interest rate sicken pensioners
The lowering in interest rates mostly has positive consequences for most citizens, but the moment the rate is lowered and on make the sum to calculate how much one now will be paying back on house and vehicle financing, one easily forgets the negative effect it has on a soft target - pensioners. Read more

Alumni get together in Windhoek
The rector of North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, visited several Puk alumni in November in Namibia as part of the University’s responsibility to maintain continued contact with its Alumni. Read more

Proteas have Puk in abundance
Shelly Norris, the NWU Puk’s main netball coach, hits the nail on the head when she says: “Somewhere we seem to be doing things correctly.”  Half of the South African netball team currently participating in Liverpool, England, in the Fastnet Championships is presently, or was, Pukke. Read more

Terseus Liebenberg, coach of champions
Faces hang on the walls. Divergent and contrasting. This one is yelling, that group is smiling.  The Czechoslovakian World Record keeper, Jan Zelezny, is for ever captured a second before his javelin leaves his hand, whilst a framed Uwe Hohn of Germany stands slightly away from the American, Tom Petranoff. Read more

NWU Puk/Absa golf day a success
This year the annual NWU Puk/Absa golf day at the Potchefstroom Country Club was once again a gigantic success. This occasion is held annually to thank the donators of the University for their support with scores of NWU Puk projects. Read more

NWU Puk getting ready for a full sport programme
In the area of sport, matters on the NWU Puk Campus were nothing less than adrenalin excitement!  Two athletes, Sunette Viljoen and Justine Robbeson, participated in the Commonwealth Games in India this year in javelin throwing and walked off with a gold and bronze medal respectively. Read more

Puk acts host for WHO congress
Representatives of 29 countries from almost all the continents will be meeting at the Sports Village on North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus this week to, amongst other things, discuss quality control of medicine. Read more

NWU Puk takes over Choir Academy of SA
The Choir Academy of South Africa is making significant progress, especially now that this academy is taken under the wing of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus. According to the School of Music on the Puk Campus’ Prof. Hetta Potgieter, they are pleased to make this academy their own now. Read more

Zerwick’s expertise makes a difference
The Student Rag Community Services (SRCS) of NWU’s Puk Campus has funded the seminars, God’s answer to Aids, for the past five years and is, according to the SRCS chairperson, Jean-Marc Stidworthy, busy making inroads into many people/s lives. Mr. Johan Zerwick, a senior lecturer in Setswana at the Puk Campus’ School of Curriculum-Based Studies, presents the course in Setswana. Read more

Statistics Conference goes green
With the South African Statistics Conference which has just taken place on North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus, the organising committee comprising the Campus’ Statistics Department  and Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics, decided to declare it a “green” conference. Read more

Grade ones enjoy an outing to Puk Campus
The Honours class of the subject, Organisation Development of the School of Human Resource Sciences at NWU Puk Campus, recently entertained grade ones of President Pretorius Primary on the Campus. Read more

Jewel alongside Vaal River
This year, Nooitgedacht, the conference and recreation resort of North-West University alongside the Vaal River, commemorated its thirtieth year in which it has been in the possession of the University.  Nooitgedacht is a mere 35 km outside Potchefstroom, but with regard to peacefulness, tranquillity and isolation it is worlds apart. Read more

Muscles are bulging at Puk
Sweat, muscles and a multitude of Scandinavians. During the past week NWU Puk was enveloped in testosterone fumes during the World Heavyweight Championships which attracted every power man and woman to the Campus from 7 to 13 November.  More or less 230 participants from 36 countries took part in the championships presented in the Puk’s gymnasium. Read more

Reflect on your risk, Nobel Prize Winner warns
The most important reason for the world wide financial crisis is that the financial risks that are taken are underestimated and that the danger signs are ignored. These are the words of Prof. Robert Engle, 2003’s Nobel Prize Winner in Economy. Read more

Prof. Harm makes yet another big scoop!
Prof. Harm Moraal, associated with the NWU Potchefstroom Campus’ Centre for Space Physics’ performance probably is by now as long as his arm, but he clearly has not had enough yet. Moraal was recently nominated as part of her Astronomy Advice Panel by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, as part of her Astronomy Advice Panel. Read more

Staff shortage threatens “free” health care
Government’s proposed National Health Insurance health care programme will not succeed in being implemented unless government deploys sufficient health care providers to the correct geographic locations. Read more

Faculty of Law helps government to sharpen services
The NWU Potchefstroom Campus’ Faculty of Law has just presented their first Human Rights Indaba, which, according to congress attendees, was a gigantic success. The indaba was presented in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation and focused on delegates from local government and lower courts. Read more

First years of 50 years ago meet again
The annual reunion of firs years of 50 Years ago once again took place on 26 October 2010 on the NJWU’s Potchefstroom Campus. Read more

Wannie puts first of its kind on the shelves
For those who envied Prof. Wannie Carstens, Director of the NWU Potchefstroom Campus’ School of Languages, for his annual breath-taking holidays in Belgium … there is news. He secluded himself to pay full attention to his new book. The hard work paid off, and the book is published at last! Read more

Rector socialises with reverends
A delegation of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus, among who were the Rector and staff of the Alumni Office, recently spoilt alumni theology students formerly associated with this Campus, with a gathering in Johannesburg. Read more

Inspiring lecturers receive prizes from Rapport
In total, sixteen lecturers at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University received prizes after students could vote for lecturers who inspired them most with innovative teaching. Two lecturers were chosen per faculty; a winner and a runner-up. The winner received a prize from the Sunday newspaper, Rapport, to the value of R50 000. Read more

Well-known former minister delivers inauguration speech
A Professor in Dogmatics at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University and well-known former minister in the city recently delivered his inauguration speech. Prof. Callie (CFC) Coetzee was a minister of the Reformed Church in Potchefstroom for twenty years, from 1982 to 2002. Read more

Golden Pendoring for Puk student
The subject group Graphic Design’s success received yet another acknowledgement with the award of a golden Pendoring in Afrikaans advertising. Mr. Wessie van der Westhuizen, lecturer, and one of his students, Theresa le Grange’s projects, Roofies, for MK received the golden award in the mixed media, deur-die-lyn campaign. Read more

NWU acts host to much sought-after conference in statistics
The South African Statistics Conference will soon take place on North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus. Well-known International speakers, amongst others a Nobel Prize winner, will be in action here from 8 to 12 November. Read more

Exceptional Post-doctoral student bids Puk farewell
“What I accomplished here, I would never have been able to do without the assistance of the competent staff on the Puk.” These are the farewell words of what the School of Music sees as an exceptional post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Christian Onyeji. Read more

NWU empowers learners regarding renewable energy
As part of a community project, Master’s degree students at North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus’ School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering joined forces to make a difference in the lives of Ikageng residents. Read more

Rector proud of fruit from pen of academics
The rector of the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University thanked several academics for the books they contributed to the exhibition in his office and said he is proud of each contribution he had received. Read more

Kotzé is best boss of the year
The manager of the Health Care Centre on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University was recently nominated Boss of the Year in Potchefstroom. Dr. Emile Kotzé received the award in the competition, Boss SA 2010, presented by the Abraham Kriel Children’s Home. Read more

First Strategy Trader shares competition a great success
Students of the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University recently tested their ingenuity regarding the shares market with a competition presented by Strategy Trader. More than ninety students from different faculties traded shares with a fictitious amount of R100 000 for the period 16 August to 23 September. Read more

First phase of website development successfully completed
Thanks to the dedication of all role players, the launch of the first phase of the new NWU website has been successfully completed. Mr. Louis Jacobs, Director of Corporative Communication, says, as previously decided, this phase will serve as a platform for further establishing the entire redeveloped website. Read more

Breakfast with Eloff on his balcony
The house committee members of Hombré men’s residence on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University paid a surprise visit to the Vice-Chancellor of NWU, Dr. Theuns Eloff. Read more

Rector elucidates vision of Puk Campus
The vision of North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus is to become a research-directed campus where excellence in both teaching-learning and research are strengthened mutually. This new vision was elucidated for staff and students by the Rector, Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, during the official ending of the academic year. Read more

Students’ robot arouses interest at United Nations
Two forth-year Engineering students at NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus are developing sensational technology which will possibly be employed soon by the United Nations. Albert Sorgdrager and Johan Pieterse, under supervision of Dr. Pieter van Vuuren, have just completed the prototype of their landmine tracking robot, named “Barnacle”. Read more

Klopper receives national award
The Director of the School of Nursing has just received a national award for her leadership in teaching Nursing. Prof. Hester Klopper received the award for excellence in nursing for her leadership in teaching nursing from the Nursing Education Association for 2010. Read more

Graphic Design student wins Golden Egg
Students of Graphic Design in the School of Communication Studies returned with a Golden Egg award of the Goldpack Competition this year for the third consecutive year. The third-year student, Bernice Douglas, secured R8 000 worth of prizes with the prize for best project and the gold medal as overall winner of the graphic design category. Read more

Article of Engineers one of the most popular in International Journal
Presently, an article written by two lecturers and a postgraduate student of the Faculty of Engineering, is number 13 on the international journal, Nuclear Engineering and Design’s top 25 most popular articles. Read more

Puk students obtain German Bursaries
Two third-year students of the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University have just received study bursaries to the value of R15 000 each from the German Academic Exchange Services (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst - DAAD). Read more

Thousands benefit from bursaries from NWU
Approximately 8 600 students derived benefits from several forms of bursaries given them by North-West University this year. According to NWU’s bursary annual report, just over R35 million of bursaries were made available to NWU students this year. Read more

Icon on Puk Campus turns forty
One of the icons on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University is celebrating its fortieth birthday this year.  The subway under the railway line, which connects the main campus from behind the Main Building with the West Campus, was completed in 1970. Read more

Rector bids departing students farewell
This is only one of the many unparalleled things of the Potchefstroom Campus that, to my knowledge, do not happen at other campuses. These were the words of the rector of the NWU Puk, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, during the annual rector’s function for departing students. Read more

House Committees visit Archive and Museum
The respective House Committees of Hostels on the Puk Campus of the North-West University recently participated in a guided tour through the archive and museum of this University. The Alumni Office arranged the visits. Read more

Viljoen, Thagane are Pukke’s best
On Wednesday evening at Featherhill Spa, during the NWU Puk Sport’s year-ending celebration, there was no gasping for breaths or shocked expressions when Sunette Viljoen (javelin thrower) was announced the University’s Senior Sports Women of the Year for the second consecutive year. Read more

More world athletes to be seen in Potch
The city of expertise and the NWU Puk Campus will soon be the host for the 31st Weight-Lifting World Championship. According to the president of the South African Weight-Lifting Federation, Hannie Smith, approximately 280 athletes from 36 countries will be seen on NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus. Read more

Puk education initiative creates immense craving for education
Approximately 22 years ago North-West University launched an additional education initiative which has led to one of the country’s most successful empowerment projects. Since then this mustard seed has grown into a gigantic tree and has exceeded the wildest expectations of those involved.  Read more

SAS renews partnership with NWU
The SAS Institute South Africa and North-West University (NWU) have concluded the signing of an agreement that reaffirms a long-standing partnership between the two organisations. Read more

Pukke win mock trial competition
NWU Potchefstroom Campus’ Faculty of Law were the winners of the Lexis Nexis Intervarsity Criminal Mock Trial Competition 2010 for the second consecutive year. Read more

Engineering Professors share their expertise
Prof. Frans Waanders, director at the School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering, attended the 4th International Freiberg Conference in Dresden, Germany, earlier this year where he made a presentation and was elected on the board of this conference. Read more

Harnessing technology receives a thrashing during Puk Forum
The annual NWU Puk Forum took place on 18 October in commemoration of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University’s 141st birthday. Read more

Spinal problems lead to international recognition
It was her intense spinal pain that drove her to do more research on this subject, which eventually put her name on the international role of merits.  Read more

Northern Hemisphere’s winter will rook us
Bad news for South African consumers is that fuel prices will rise considerably early next month. According to the Department of Minerals and Energy, the rise in petrol will be estimated at approximately 22 cents per litre.  Read more

Precious memories of 1960’s first years
As every year, the North-West University once more held a reunion this year for the first years of fifty years ago.  Hence this year’s reunion was for the alumni who registered at the then PU for CHE and POK in 1960. As with all reunions, to the first years of times gone by, this visit to the Campus was a monumental memory trip. Read more

Laureus men show their bodies for a good cause
An initiative to collect funds for several projects turned into something many lady students would have given their front teeth for.  Read more

Mahoney says goodbye
After four years and more than a hundred matches for NWU Pukke, scrumhalf Andries Mahoney said goodbye to the University in a most fitting manner on Tuesday 12 October. Read more

NWU Puk still trains quality nuclear power engineers
The Post-Graduate School of Nuclear Power and Engineering at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University will continue to concentrate on quality education and deliver quality nuclear engineers. Read more

Brain parcel meal confirms Puk’s competence
Approximately 100 researchers and those interested, at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, had the honour of listening to the experiences of A and B-graded professors.  Read more

Puk’s Commonwealth heroines triumph
You know the farmer by the calves. Similarly a new SA and Africa record (66.38) as well as another gold medal at the Commonwealth Games means that NWU Pukke’s javelin thrower, Sunette Viljoen, is a young woman who does not rest on her laurels. Read more

Puk Engineering students increase quality of life
First-year students of the Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus decided to take the proverbial bull by the horns and will soon be touching the lives of others through several projects. Read more

Puk Professor on Minister’s Advisory Panel
Professor Heilna du Plooy of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus’ School of Languages, has just been appointed by the minister of higher education, Blade Nzimande, as a member on a panel to advise him on a future policy for the Arts in Higher Education.  Read more

Technology and religion under the magnifying glass at Puk Forum
The Office of the Campus Rector, the Faculty of Engineering and the Institute for Foundational Investigation of the Potchefstroom Campus will be presenting the NWU PUK Forum on 18 October in commemoration of the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus’ 141 anniversary. Read more

Students of NWU receive degrees in London
Several degrees were conferred to students of the Greenwich School of Theology (GST) and to some from North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus during a convocation ceremony in London. Read more

The needy get a foot in the door on Puk’s barefoot day
One of the highlights on the Student Rag Community Services’ (SRCS) calendar is the annual Barefoot Day that takes place on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.  Read more

Mahoney is NWU Puk’s player of the year
Excellence on the field, years of service off the field and the farewell to a legend. This and much more was honoured during NWU Puk Rugby Institute’s year-end function Tuesday with Andries Mahoney, hot-stuff scrumhalf of NWU Puk, who was nominated the university’s Player of the Year. Read more

Pukke’s long-winded athletes walk off with three crowns
The long-winded athletes of NWU Puk recently walked off with three crowns during the annual USSA Championships. Athletes from NWU Pukke performed excellently during the past USSA cross-country championships in Port Elizabeth at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). Read more

New building complex for engineers
A new engineering complex is currently being constructed on North West University’s Potchefstroom campus.  The site is situated between the Botanical Gardens and the Vice Chancellor’s residence. Building has already started and the project completion date is August 2011. Read more

Puk’s D students all set to take the bull by the horns
In total, 44 doctor’s degrees were awarded to students of North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus during the annual spring graduation ceremony. To the Rector of the Campus, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, it was a huge honour to send these students, of whom six were members of staff, into the world with confidence and peace of mind. Read more

Puk graphic students, birds of a different feather in Loeries
Eight graphic design students at NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus were once more crowned with a much sought-after Loerie award. The Loeries is an annual South African award that rewards creative excellence and the expansion in the field of marketing, advertising, as well as graphic design and digital media. This year a record 21 Puk finalists were nominated for the Loeries. Read more

NWU Puk once more sponsors Beeld Youth Conference
This year NWU Puk presented the popular Beeld Youth Conference for the sixth consecutive year. The Conference affords learners the opportunity of developing as leaders and of performing leadership development activities along with co-learners. Read more

Puk Alumni socialise in London
The NWU Puk Alumni Office recently arranged a reunion of alumni in London, England. In total, 55 alumni attended the occasion where they were entertained in genuine South African hospitality. The Vice-Chancellor of the NWU, Dr. Theuns Eloff, and the Campus Rector, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, addressed the guests. Read more

CTexT and Pharos collaboration aids multilingualism
Pharos Dictionaries, an imprint of NB Publishers, recently released the new software version of the Multilingual Illustrated Dictionary, making learning vocabulary more fun than ever. The CD-ROM, which is based on the book by John Bennet and Nthuseng Tsoeu, was developed by the Centre for Text Technology (CTexT®), at the NWU Puk. Read more

Students club together on tree planting day
This year students of NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus participated in tree planting week and planted two trees in the Botanical Garden on the Campus. The Democratic Alliance’s student organisation and the academic student society of the School of Environmental Sciences arranged the ceremony in collaboration with the Botanical Garden staff. Read more

Burger gives lecture for Foundational Studies
The Institute for Foundational Studies within the Faculty of Arts recently again gave a lecture in his series of public lectures for 2010. Prof. Willie Burger, head of the Department of Afrikaans at the University of Pretoria, presented the lecture. Read more

Half a century old Conservatory celebrates birthday with magnificent concert
This year North-West University’s School of Music celebrates the fiftieth commemoration of the Conservatory on the Potchefstroom Campus with a special Dean’s Concert on Tuesday 12 October. Read more

Brummer shows heels, wins silver
It is in his blood, his infinite long-windedness and each step of it is his belief. Cross-country run – the sport measured by oomph.  NWU Pukke’s Dean Brummer recently ended second in the South African senior 4-km cross-country championships sport number held in Limpopo. Read more

NWU looks at hydrogen as an alternative source of energy
The North-West University, in collaboration with the SCSR, has been designated as one of three Centres of Competence in the country doing research on hydrogen as a source of energy. In 2008, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) registered the trademark Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) to research and develop hydrogen as a safe source of energy. Read more

Puk Professor takes the lead against pollution substances, ozone
Not only does the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus dispose of one of the country’s foremost “green ambassadors”, but also now a panel member in the scientific and technical advisory panel for the Global Environment Facility. Prof. Henk Bouwman of the School of Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Natural Sciences, has just been offered this position. Read more

Puk’s Faculty of Law counts among the best
Notwithstanding the fact that the Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus has a relatively small academic personnel corps, the faculty’s experts reach great heights at national as well as international level. Read more

Tourism host of international conference
The Institute for Tourism and Leisure Time studies of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus has just presented the annual conference of AIEST (International Association of Scientific Experts in Tourism). The theme of the sixtieth conference of AIEST was tourism development after the zenith, how to counteract world imbalances and to contribute to the millennium’s objectives. Read more

Four Pukke keyed up for Commonwealth Games
Four athletes of the NWU Pukke’s Dreamveldt Athletics Club have been included in the group of eleven to represent South Africa in the Commonwealth Games that commence in New Delhi on 6 October. They are Sunette Viljoen (javelin throwing), Justine Robbeson (javelin throwing), Simon Magakwe (100 m and 200 m) and Tumelo Thagane (triple jump). Read more

Expert from USA presents choir workshop
The Institute for Arts Management and Development, Artéma, of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus has just presented a workshop for choir leaders, choir organisers and choirmasters in collaboration with the Arts Centre of the University of Johannesburg. The workshop was led by Jonathan Griffith. Read more

Puk student wields the winning sword in ‘warfare’
For many the computer game, Minesweeper, is only a form of pastime, but to Bertie Seyffert, an MSc student at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, it is a passion with which he has reached great heights. Bertie currently holds the highest rank on the Minesweeper world ranking list in South Africa and Africa, and occupies the overall tenth position in the world. Read more

North-West University best governed university fourth year in a row
For the fourth year in a row, the North-West University’s commitment to upholding best practice in effective management and corporate governance was acknowledged recently, when the University received first place in the 2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers Higher Education Excellence Award for Corporate Governance. Read more

NWU Puk and Aardklop present race
The NWU Puk Aardklop road race will be presented soon during the Art Festival in Potchefstroom. The race of 10 km will be presented on Saturday, at 07:00 on 2 October, from the main building on the Puk Campus. A fun jog of 5 km is also being arranged. Read more

NWU research on export opportunities a first in South Africa
Economists from the North-West University have developed a research model to identify export opportunities for South Africa. This is a first in South Africa and – as far as scope is concerned – also a first in the world. Read more

Pukke once more seek crown of 2008
Will the Pukke fare one better this year? The NWU Puk Rugby Institute’s attempt to win the National Club Championships kicks off on Saturday afternoon (18 September) in Stellenbosch when last year’s runner-ups turn out against Middelburg. In 2009, the Puk lost 36-34 against Hamiltons in the finals of the Club Championships. Read more

Van Rooyen’s inauguration addresses role of rennin in high blood pressure
Prof Johannes van Rooyen, attached to the School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences on the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU, held his inaugural speech on 27 August 2010. For the past twelve years, Van Rooyen has been involved in research that investigates the risk factors for hyper tension among black Africans. Read more

Carstens elected chairperson for further term
The Director of the School of Languages has just been nominated chairperson of the Afrikaans Language Board (Afrikaanse Taalraad – ATR) for a further term.  Prof. Wannie Carstens was involved in the process as initiator and driver of the process from the very beginning, and it eventually led to the establishment of the ATR. Read more

Pukke only SA team to international competition
Four students of the School of Accounting Sciences and their mentor will soon be representing South Africa in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Challenge in Malaysia. The students and their mentor, Ms. Rona Louwrens, were one of 24 South African teams that could, for the first time, participate in this challenge from South Africa. Read more

Distance learning under the magnifying glass at NWU
This year the National Unit for Open Learning-Distance Learning in South Africa’s (NADEOSA) annual congress was presented by the North-West University.  It is the largest conference in distance learning ever in the country and was attended by delegates from several countries. Read more

Jurists place good faith and ubuntu under the magnifying glass
The Faculty of Law of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus recently hosted a Colloquium in collaboration with the Alexander von Humboldt Stiftung of Germany with, as theme, "Ubuntu, Humanity and Good Faith / Equity as Flexible Principles in Law and Society in Southern Africa - Appropriate Principles in an Ever-Changing World?" Read more

Vergeet-My-Nie is national serenade winner
The ladies of Vergeet-My-Nie hostel on the Puk Campus of the North-West University bore the palm this year after being crowned ATKV’s national universities serenade winners. Five universities, Puk, Tukkies, UJ, Kovsies and Maties, participated in this sought-after cultural activity. Read more

Serenaders are Regional winners
This year the Serenaders of the Puk Campus of the North-West University won the North-West Region Competition and will participate in the National Choir Festival in Pretoria in December. This is the second consecutive year that Serenaders reaches the final of the Old Mutual National Choir Festival. Read more

Conservatory commemorates half a century this year
This year it is exactly fifty years ago that the Conservatory of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus was put into service.  The Conservatory is the home of the School of Music.  It was then described as the most modern in the Union and the PU for CHE was the first university in the country to have its own Conservatory. Read more

NWU Puk’s first years of 1960 will have a reunion
The first years of half a century ago are once more cordially invited to attend a reunion on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University this year. All first years of 1960 of the PU for CHE, as well as students of the former Potchefstroom Teachers’ Training College (Pote), are invited to visit their alma mater on 26 October. Read more

Staff make others laugh on Casual Day
Staff in different departments on the Potchefstroom Campus took this year’s theme to heart on Casual Day and made others split their sides with laughter. The theme for this year’s Casual Day was “let us laugh with your costume” and from a bee and defence force uniform to a deep sea diver raised laughs. Read more

Alumnus receives fourth honorary doctor’s degree
An alumnus student and professor of the former PU for CHE and international expert on an-organic chemistry recently received his fourth honorary doctor’s degree.  Read more

Hunters’ spending increases despite recession
The latest results of the third national survey conducted by the Institute for Tourism and Leisure Studies at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), regarding the profile and spending of biltong hunters in South Africa, have been released by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Melville Saayman.  Read more

AUTHeR and CEN are glowing about new SuNRAY study
An application of the Africa Unit for Trans-disciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR) and the Centre for Excellence for Nutrition (CEN) for a new research study on sustainable nutrition research in Africa is the only successful application that will be funded by the European Union.
Read more

Chrisna reaches new heights
The NWU Pukke’s Chrisna Bootha has been included in the Protea National Netball Team which will be participating in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, from 24 September to 17 October.   Read more

NWU Puk facilities used during world tournament
This year the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) first women’s cricket challenge tournament will be presented in Potchefstroom from 6 to 16 October.  Read more

Esti helps with broadcasting of Springbok match on radio
An expert in Biokinetics was recently invited to act as commentator during RSG’s broadcast of the rugby match between the Springboks and the All Blacks in Soweto.   Read more

Puk at a loss in Predators final
On Wednesday evening in Randfontein in the final of the Predator league, the NWU Pukke were bogged 26-17 against UJ.  Wesley Robberts, UJ’s fly-half, punished the Puk with his accurate aim at the goalposts, although one should admit that he had an ally in the blower. 
Read more

Engineering students step onto the podium with third place
Five engineering students of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus won third place in the annual Cyber Junkyard competition this year.  Read more

Kellner makes inputs at international level
• Biodiversity and ecosystem services under scrutiny
An international expert on combating desertification, of the North-West University, represented the UN Convention for combating desertification at the United Nations’ IPBES meeting in Southern Korea.  Read more

NWU is force behind TRAC Science Laboratory
The North-West University hat a gigantic share in bringing science to disadvantaged school children in the areas of Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp by means of a mobile laboratory. TRAC SA designed these mobile laboratories that visit schools so that they themselves can do practical science experiments. Read more

International experts share information on law of insolvency at NWU
Several well-known academics in the Law of Insolvency field attended a colloquium held on this topic by the Faculty of Law of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. Prof. Leonie Stander, who presented the colloquium, said the aim was to focus on a number of innovative aspects of the Law of Insolvency. Read more

Jonker brothers among five bests in the world
The well-known Jonker brothers in sail plane flying have given yet another step on their road to success during this year’s world sail planning championships in Hungary.  Read more

Four Dreamveldt NWU Pukke to Commonwealth Games
Four of the eleven South African athletics team members representing South Africa soon at the Commonwealth Games in India are athletes from the Dreamveldt NWU Puk athletics club.  Read more

Van Rooyen is new SC chairperson
Jaycee van Rooyen has just been elected new chairperson of the student council on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus.
  Jaycee says to him it is an unbelievable privilege, but at the same time he is also childishly excited about the term lying ahead. Read more

Distance Learning under Scrutiny during International Conference
The School of Continuing Teacher Training within the Faculty of Education Sciences will soon be the host of an international conference on distance learning on the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus.  
Read more

Alumni Office socialise with Puk alumni in Southern and Western Cape
The Alumni Office of the NWU recently held two get-togethers in the Cape to inform alumni, school principals and parents of prospective students regarding the progressive University.   Read more

Nuclear Engineering does pioneering work with research
Pioneering work is done at the post-graduate School of Nuclear Science and Engineering with research on the fuel for the future.
  Prof. Eben Mulder of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University says the mineral, thorium, presents exciting options as nuclear fuel.   Read more

Schutte wins much sought after science prize
One of the North-West University’s young women scientists was recently crowned by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) as winner of the Women in Science Award (WISA) in the category for young women who distinguish themselves in life sciences.  Read more

Staff commemorated Hennie Bingle’s 100th  birthday
On Monday evening (16 August), several members of staff clinked glasses on a great man, Prof. Hennie Bingle, a former rector of the PU for CHE,  at an informal occasion.  Read more

Fablab now even more fabulous
With the brand new Trotec Speedy 300 laser machine at the Fablab on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University people can give free reign to their imaginations and let loose their creativity. 
Read more

Pharmacology makes its mark in world arena
Three members of staff of Pharmacology in the School of Pharmacy recently made history by being elected in the management of the International Union for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (IUPHAR) for the first time.  Read more

 Research on biofuel acknowledged internationally
A lecturer at the School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University was the only South African and also in Africa to be invited to appear as consultant at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Rome.  Read more

Faculty of Engineering helps in promoting science
This year, the Faculty of Engineering on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University was a provincial centre for the popular Minquiz™ Science Competition for the fifth time.  Read more

Potgieter member of LitNet Akademies’ advisory board
“For the first time in years I am going to once more write and read Physics in Afrikaans.”   These were the words of Prof. Marius Potgieter of the Centre for Space Physics on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, concerning his appointment as member of LitNet Akademies’ (Natural Sciences) advisory board.   Read more

Kerkorrel more than a legend
The music of the Afrikaans music legend, Johannes Kerkorrel (Ralph Rabie), will be presented in the exiting production “Persreën” from 18 to 21 August in the Sanlam Auditorium on the NWU Puk Campus. 
Read more

Potgieter serves on ISWI steering committee
One of the North-West University’s A1 Researchers and Director of the School of Physics at the Potchefstroom Campus, Prof. Marius Potgieter, has been invited to serve on the steering committee of the International Space Weather Initiative – ISWI).   Read more

Sheer Puk Rugby Pleasure
More supporters on Shimlapark, more points on the scoring board and yet another intervarsity victory for the NWU Pukke.   Rudy Joubert’s troops made the University of the Free State blush for the sixth consecutive time by beating Shimlas 21-18 in an exciting match in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.   Read more

Bursaries for students
This year the HEXAGON TRUST, of which Prof Jan Smit is a trustee, awarded more than R1.3 million in bursaries to 31 NWU students on the three campuses in Natural Sciences, Engineering and Chartered Accountancy Training. It is the fifth year for HEXAGON to award bursaries to NWU students.   Read more

Drive Safely Project huge success
The NWU Puk’s Health Care Centre’s Drive Safely project near Wesselsbron this year was an even bigger success than that of the previous year. The project was launched to help the students who travelled from Potchefstroom to Bloemfontein for the intervarsity this year to arrive safely at their destination.  Read more

SRCS donates generously to community
Hundreds of people in the North West Province benefited from the funds Student Rag Community Services donated.  This student charity organisation of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University donated R650 000 to organisations, projects and individuals in need.
Read more

NWU students did good work during FIFA World Cup
Positive feedback was received concerning the 23 NWU students who completed their internship during the World Cup at Host Broadcasting Services at the Royal Bafokeng-stadium in Rustenburg.  Read more

History Conference was a Milestone
“This conference was one of the highlights of my 25 years as chairperson.”  These were the closing words of Prof. Johan Bergh of the University of Pretoria and chairperson of the Historical Association of South Africa, following the resent bi-annual conference of the association on the Potchefstroom Campus of the NWU.   Read more

Institute gives public lecture on nihilism
The Institute for Foundational Studies (the former Centre for Faith and Scholarship) on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University recently gave a public lecture with, as theme, Nihilism and the Community.    Read more

Attendance of festivals in South Africa show a decline
Research done by the Institute for Tourism and Leisure Time Studies of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus indicates a general decline in people attending festivals and art festivals in South Africa.
Read more

New life for Afrikaans Linguistics with digital bibliography
Following years of planning and even unsuccessful attempts, a digital bibliography of the Afrikaans Linguistics (DBAT) was recently announced on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.
Read more

All the favourites in Persreën
Ralph Rabie’s greatest hits such as Hillbrow , Halala Africa, Ossewa and Hoe ek voel are but a few of the favourites that can be heard and experiences in the production “Persreën” from 18 to 21 August.  Puk Arts, Artéma and Alabama Productions will present this musical journey through the music of Johannes Kerkorrel in the Sanlam Auditorium on the NWU Puk Campus.  Read more

Golden, silver and two bronzes for NWU Puk athletes
The athletes of the NWU Puk Athletics Club performed excellently at the recent Africa Games in Nairobi and four of the seven returned with five medals.  Read more

Successful Drug Awareness Campaign on Campus
This week the Health Care Centre launched a successful campaign to make students on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University more aware the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse.
Read more

De Ridder talks to world leaders about child obesity
A projected 155 million school-going children and adolescents in the world display symptoms of obesity, and child obesity is becoming a serious health epidemic.   Read more

Science Week celebrated on the NWU Puk Campus
A large number of schools in North West will be visiting the Potchefstroom Campus this week as part of National Science week that is being celebrated.   Read more

Spotlight on safety during Intervarsity
This year the spotlight will fall on students’ safety when they drive to Bloemfontein for the Intervarsity on Friday 6 August.  Read more

NWU students receive R1,2 million worth of bursary money from Rio Casino
More than fifty students of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus will benefit from the donation of R1,2 million from the Rio Hotel Casino Convention Resort  in Klerksdorp.  Read more

Engineering Lecturer is causing a sensation
A senior lecturer at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus is busy causing a sensation countrywide after sharing his research on and knowledge of energy-saving heat pumps.  Read more

Engineering Student walks off with winning prize
A Nuclear Engineering student of North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus recently walked off with the first place at an international congress in Cape Town.  Read more

Top SA referees trained at NWU
Fifty of South Africa’s top soccer referees attended the South African Football Association’s (SAFA) annual referee seminar at the sports facilities of North-West University.  This is the fourth time that SAFA (South African Football Association) has availed itself of the University’s facilities.  Read more

Historical milestones: Union, Wind of Change and the Rubicon speech commemorated
2010 is more than just the year of the FIFA World Cup tournament.  It is also an important year for commemorating decisive events in the South African history that took place 100, 50 and 25 years ago.  Read more

Persreën for Kerkorrel
The arrangement process of the music and vocals for the thrilling production, Persreën, which will soon be staged in Potchefstroom, has already produced heaps of paperwork.  Read more

Extensive measuring of air pollution now done near Potchefstroom
A collaboration agreement between the North-West University (NWU) and the University of Helsinki (UH) in Finland has led to the establishment of a uniquely equipped monitoring station near Potchefstroom that measures air pollution and climate changes.  At the station, meteorological data, radiation intensities, polluting substances such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and atmospheric particles (aerosols) are measured.
Read more

NWU Career Centre’s services of the best in the country
The North-West University’s Career Centre recently won second place for the best career services amongst all the universities and tertiary institutions in the country.  Read more

Waanders receives acknowledgement in the world of Engineering
Prof. Frans Waanders of the School of Chemical and Mineral Engineering at the North-West University was recently chosen to serve on a panel of experts that have to see to it that the accreditation of Engineering Faculties in the country comply with international standards.  Read more

Sunette gives best performance of her career
Sunette Viljoen, brilliant athlete of the NWU Puk Athletics Club, gave the best performance of her career this week when she set a new South African and Africa record in javelin throwing.   Read more

Rector hands over computers to soccer in North West
The Rector of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University handed over six computers to the South African Football Union’s (SAFA) North-West region.  Read more

Spanish Soccer Team Arrives in Potchefstroom on Friday
After months of planning and making preparations, the Spanish national soccer team will arrive in Potchefstroom this week. 
Read more

Its raining purple in Potch
From 18 to 21 August this year it will be raining purple in Potch.  Puk Arts, Artéma and Alabama Productions will join hands to professionally stage a thrilling unique production, Persreën (Purple Rain), in the Sanlam Auditorium.   Read more

Viva España!
Soccer fever kicks off in Potchefstroom with a group of professional Flamenco dancers that will appear in the Drakenstein Restaurant on the Puk Campus.  Read more

NWU PUK Chancellor's Trust Prize for Afrikaans Composition 2010
The Information Centre for Southern African Music announces the NWU PUK Chancellor's Trust Prize for Afrikaans Composition for 2010. The closing date for entries is Thursday, 30 September 2010.  Read more

Pukke only SA team to international competition
Four students of the School of Accounting Sciences and their mentor will soon be representing South Africa in the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Challenge in Malaysia.
Read more

Rector entertains NWU Puk athletes
The Rector of the Puk Campus entertained athletes of the NWU Puk following their success in the recent USSA (University Sport South Africa) tournament and the inclusion of several athletes in SA teams.
Read more

Roux completes circle after decades
During a prestige lecture, earlier this year, Prof Cornelia Roux was introduced to the academic community of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus.  Roux was recently appointed Research Director of the Research Focus Area Teaching-learning Organisations in the Faculty of Education Sciences.  Read more

 Schutte’s inaugural speech addresses high blood pressure
Prof. Alta Schutte, leader of the niche area Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART) recently held her inaugural speech on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.  Read more

Butterfly specie is named after a NWU lecturer
He is better known for the spadework he has done to save the world-known Brenton Blue butterfly from extinction, but now another butterfly species is named after him and his wife.  Read more

Immortalised name
Naming babies can be an exiting and consuming pastime for prospective parents.  In a bygone era grandparents were overcome with joy and pride when a grandchild was named after them. Dr Jonathan Taylor, curator of the South African National Diatom Collection housed by the School of Environmental Sciences of the North-West University, had a species of diatoms named after him. Read more

NWU Puk presents training to WHO and Medicine Control Council
The World Health Organisation’s Collaboration Centre for the Quality Assurance of Medicine (WHO-CC) on the NWU Puk Campus recently presented a training session for a selected group of national and international inspectors of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the South African Medicine Control Council (MCC) on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University. It was done with the cooperation of the Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy ® with which CENQAM® is incorporated. Read more

NWU Puk student chosen for World Youth Choir
A talented artist and music student of the Puk was recently chosen for the World Youth Choir. Marshell Lombard is a third-year song student of Prof. Werner Nel at the School of Music. He will be attending a practice camp with the other members of the World Youth Choir on the Canary Island Tenerife, from 5 to 29 July and will later also tour Spain and France.
Read more

Post-graduate student receives performance award
A post-graduate student of North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus has received a performance award from the National Protein Research Foundation for her postgraduate studies. Read more

Workshop boosts international collaboration for Space Physics
Gazing at the heavens has a different meaning for scientists than for students who use it as an excuse for spending time with a beloved.  Especially so for the scientists who attended the international workshop on cosmic rays in the heliosphere during March this year.  Read more

Thousands visit Career Exhibition on NWU PUK Campus
The Career Centre of the North-West University presented a very successful career exhibition on the Potchefstroom Campus. In total, 76 companies attended the exhibition for three days (13 to 15 April) and an average of one thousand students visited the exhibition in the Amphitheatre, Alumni Hall and Science Centre each day. Read more

Colloquium of the Faculty of Law focuses on Land Tenure
Recently, an international colloquium on good management of land tenure was arranged by the Faculty of Law on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University. Read more

Electronic Services move into new offices
Electronic Services (ELS) on the Potchefstroom Campus moved into new buildings on the campus recently. Earlier, this department was housed in the Physics Building. Read more

40 artists part of unique exhibition
Forty artists from various subject areas participated in a unique exhibition in the gallery of the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University. Read more

Teachers attend workshop
The school of curriculum-based studies of the faculty of education sciences on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University recently presented a workshop for teachers. The workshop dealt with teaching for a sustainable life where platforms were created to exchange ideas between schools and environment experts on how to apply models practically for sustainable life. Read more

Open Day attracts record numbers
This year the Open Day of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University was attended by a record number of people. The large number of people necessitated the University to present three sessions during which the Rector addressed guests. Read more

BCom Acc and IMI alumni socialise
Approximately ninety Puk alumni in BCom Accounting and Industrial Mathematics and Informatics recently socialised in Johannesburg. 
Read more

They soar on the wings of a dream
It was a dream come true for two Potchefstroom brothers when their world-class glider recently became the first South African glider to adhere to European air flight standards. Attie and Uys Jonker, together with colleague Johan Bosman, the driving force behind Jonker Sailplanes, are the proud owners of the JS1 Revelation. Read more

Pensioned NWU Puk Alumni Members of Staff entertained
The NWU Puk Alumni Office recently entertained Puk alumni members of staff on a breakfast at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. The occasion was arranged to thank and acknowledge them for their years of service and dedication to the University. Prof. TT Cloete thanked the host on behalf of the guests. Read more

Academy for Science and Arts honours three academics and writer
Three academics of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University were recently honoured by the Academy for Science and Arts for their research. Profs. Bennie van der Walt (School of Philosophy), Paul Styger (School of Economics) and Jaap Helberg (Theology) each received a prize from the Academy. Another member of staff, Ms. Nelia Engelbrecht, received a prize for her children’s book. Read more

NWU Puk Sports Village officially opened
The new NWU Puk Sports Village, which will be housing the Spanish soccer team during the coming Soccer World Cup, has just been officially opened. The rector of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University, Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, unveiled the memorial plaque and pointed out that the complex symbolises the University’s commitment to sport. Read more

Carstens now member of US Council
A Language fundi of the NWU Puk Campus of the North-West University was recently chosen council member of the University of Stellenbosch (US). Prof. Wannie Carstens, Director of the School of Languages, was chosen to this office by the Convocation of the US. He was a student at the mentioned university from 1971 to 1977. Read more

NWU Pukke chosen best cricket players
The NWU Puk’s Cricket Club has chosen its best players of the past season. Nicky van den Bergh of Puk 1 is player of the year, as well as best batsman in the team. His team mate, Stefan Gericke, is best bowler of the year and Nico Raubenheimer is best fielder of the year.
Read more

Cognoscenti talk about new computer technology
A well-informed person regarding computer sciences recently informed a group of interested parties on the latest development in America in this field. Read more

New Building for Faculty of Theology inaugurated
A new building for the Faculty of Theology of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University was recently taken into service. This building was erected to the amount of approximately R10 million adjacent to the Reformed Church of South Africa’s School of Theology in Molen Street. Read more

Prominent international visitors to Institute for Sport Science
Several council members of the International Association of High Performance Sports Training Centres (IAHPSTC) visited the NWU Puk recently. The Puk Campus’ Institute for Sport Science and Development (ISD) has been a member of this association for the past ten years.
Read more

Quality must reign supremely - new rector
Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk was inaugurated as the second rector of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University this week.  
Read more

Tinned Food Day a Record Winner
Students of the Puk Campus collected a record number of tins this year during the annual SRCS tinned food day.   Read more

Puk and Riaan Venter present tennis feast
Potchefstroom was called the tennis capital from 6 to 12 March when 128 racket slingers from across the world participated in the NWU Puk and Riaan Venter’s Junior International Tennis Federation Tournament. 
Read more

International experts give greener than green light for SCT programmes
The School of Continuing Teacher Training (SCT) of the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus has just received an excellent report after four international experts in distance teaching had evaluated the programme and profession.  Read more

NWU opens laboratory for product development and manufacturing
A laboratory that can support manufacturers in improving their competitiveness locally and internationally was recently opened on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.  Read more

Sponsorship causes ‘positiewe vibrations’
The School of Mechanical Engineering of the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University has received two new instruments and software programmes, as well as a support plan from a sponsor to assist students with their research.  Read more

Schutte will soon be delivering her inaugural speech
A chameleon approach to hypertension is the title of the inaugural speech  of Prof. Alta Schutte of the Faculty of Health Sciences which will be delivered soon.  Read more

Universities join hands to develop literacy tests
The North-West University recently formed part of a team of researchers of four universities in the country to establish an Inter-Institutional Centre for Language Development and Assessment (ICELDA).  Read more

Pukke once more against Maties in semi-final match of Varsity Cup
The Pukke will once more be playing against the Maties in the semi-final round of the Varsity Cup Rugby Series. The other semi-final match is between the Ikeys and the Shimlas. Both Cape Universities will have home field advantage in the final round.  Read more

Fourth generation in Grandfather’s Gown
A gown which has been worn by the children, grandchildren and children-in-law for 62 years was worn by the first great grandchild this year during his graduation ceremony on the NWU Puk.
  Dr. EA Venter was involved in education for 45 years all in all, of which sixteen years were at the former College of Education and also a temporary member of staff at the former PU for CHE. He wore this gown for the first time in 1948 when he received his doctoral degree.
Read more

Faculty portrayed in painting
The Faculty of Health Sciences as just recently introduced a very special painting to the Faculty’s managing committee and the Vice-Rector: Teaching-Learning, Prof. Mariëtte Lowes.  Read more

Matie Alumnus now Extraordinary Professor at Theology
A pensioned lecturer at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Stellenbosch has recently been appointed Extraordinary Professor in Practical Theology on the Puk Campus of the North-West University.
Read more

NWU Puk is Golden Key’s student leader of the year
A student of the NWU Puk has just recently been nominated leader of the Year 2009 by Golden Key South Africa.
  This year, Ryan Meintjes is doing his BCom Hons degree in Economy and will also complete his fourth year LLB.  Read more

Fourth National Triumph for NWU Puk
This year the NWU Pukke won the ATKV National Debating Competition for universities in Stellenbosch for the fourth consecutive year. The five universities that participated are Kovsies, Maties, NWU Puk, Tukkies and UJ.  Read more

Pukke whack TUT
The Pukke had a point to prove with their convincing win of 49-17 against the visitors from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in Monday evening’s home match.  Read more

Stilfonteiners socialise
Five members of staff of the Puk Campus of the North-West University who grew up in Stilfontein, held their own mini-reunion.  Read more

Meyer helps in leading recreation in SA
A well-known in Recreation Science and lecturer at the Puk Campus of the North-West University was recently chosen vice-chairperson of a new association for leisure and recreation.  Read more

NWU Puk and University of Gent signs agreement
An agreement of several millions of rands has been concluded with the University of Gent in Belgium to train black academics in the field of industrial and clinical psychology.  Read more

Students receive access to practice-directed management training
The new fulltime postgraduate diploma in Management, which has been presented on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University since the beginning of this year, is enjoying huge favour as an alternative to an Honours degree.    Read more

More than 4 100 degrees awarded in March
More than 4 100 degrees are awarded this year during the March graduation ceremony on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University.  Read more

Sediba receives R1,3 million from Vodacom Foundation
The Sediba programme on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University has just received a gigantic injection of R1,3 million from the Vodacom Foundation.   Read more

CTexT receives contract to the amount of R5 million
CTexT kicked dust in the eyes of experts abroad with a contract to the amount of R5 million awarded to this Centre for Text Technology by the Department of Arts and Culture.  Read more

NWU-Puk third on log
The NWU-Puk's Varsity Cup woes continued last night when they battled to overcome an equally lacklustre Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) by 31-24 in Port Elizabeth.  Read more

Biosafety SA awards NWU Puk for a second time
The School of Environmental Sciences and Development on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University has received yet another award for research on genetically modified (GM)-related biosafety.   Read more

Approximately 700 learners visit campus
Approximately 700 learners of schools in and around Potchefstroom visited the Puk Campus of the North-West University on Wednesday (17 February).   Read more

SJGD bus tours 2010 a success
In spite of genuine duck’s weather, SRCS (Student Rag Community Services) bus tours went off excellently.  Read more

Staff, Students shine at SAAB Congress
Staff and students of the School of Environmental Sciences and Development of the NWU Puk practically swept the floor during the recent congress of the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB).  
Read more

First Actuaries Appointed at the NWU
The NWU recently appointed two actuaries, Robert Maxwell and Janette Larney, to the academic staff of the Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI) – a first in the history of the NWU and erstwhile Potchefstroom University for CHE that actuaries are part of the academic staff.    Read more

NWU Puk alumni taste wines
The wine fraternity of the NWU Puk Alumni has held its first wine occasion of the year.
  Ms. Junel Vermeulen from De Waal Cellars presented the taste at Christa Galli and a variety of wines were tasted, among which were Chenin Blanc 2009, Viognier 2008 (with a delectable and unique taste), Signal Rock 2007, Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Pinotage 2006 and Sauvignon Blanc 2009.  Read more

NWU Pukke chooses formidable centre twosome, keyed up for NMMU
The NWU Pukke’s shock defeat against the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the Varsity Cup has demanded its toll with nothing less than seven changes in the initial team that tackles the Nelson Mandela M Metropolitan University (NMMU) on Monday.  Read more

De Ridder looked upon as one of fourteen bests in the world
Currently the Director of the School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science of the Puk Campus is one of only fourteen anthropometrists with a level 4 qualification in the world. He is also the only one in Africa.
Read more

UJ sets back Pukke’s claim
The NWU Pukke’s hope of playing a home semi-final match in this year’s Varsity Cup series was torn to in tatters when they were surprised by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) 23-22 in Potchefstroom on Monday evening.  Read more

Staff honoured for almost 3 000 years of service
Altogether 185 members of staff with a total of approximately 3 000 years of service received awards from the North-West University’s Puk Campus this year.  Read more

Vorster shares expertise with World Health Organisation
One of the country’s most prominent researchers in the field of nutrition has been requested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to share her expertise with them.  Read more

Potgieter to represent South African space science community
Prof Marius Potgieter of the Research Unit for Space Physics on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University has been nominated by the National Research Foundation to represent the South African space science community during the general assembly of COSPAR in Bremen, Germany during July 2010.  Read more

Type in your language of choice!
CTexT™ at the North-West University has once again completed software that will enable South Africans to use technology in the language of their choice. 
  CTexT (Centre for Text Technology), in collaboration with several linguistic partners, recently completed spelling checkers for nine South African languages, to be used in Microsoft® Office programmes such as Microsoft Word.  Read more

Mixed successes for NWU Puk Cricket
This weekend the cricket teams of the NWU Puk gained mixed successes in Senwes’ 65-overs league.
  On Saturday, Puk 1 brought about a draw match in their encounter with Potch Town, but was slaughtered with an innings and 124 runs by Impala 2.   Read more

NWU serious about blood pressure clinic
The North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus recently presented a workshop with a view to plan do some planning around the establishment of a blood pressure training clinic on the campus.
Read more

Struggling Pukke at the top of hair-raising struggle
The Pukke kept alive their claim to the Varsity Cup last night with a hair-raising victory over the Shimlas, but not before the Potchefstroomers had dished up their most rotten rugby this year for more than half an hour.
Read more

Villagers, Bellatrix make others tread water
Villagers and Bellatrix’s swimmers dominated recently at the meeting for first-year students.
  Last Wednesday these town hostels were victorious in the POK swimming pool, after they also were cock of the walk earlier in the first-year athletics meeting.  Read more

“Boere” Fin still comfortable in Potch
His Finish is improving day by day and he will find it difficult to part from his favourite trout fishing spot, but Gerbrand Grobler still prefers the Afrikaans, sun and biltong of Potchefstroom.  Read more

Puk Arts celebrate thirty years
Later this year Puk Arts will be presenting four exceptional concerts to celebrate their thirtieth commemoration.  Read more

Javelin throwers rewrite history
Two NWU Puk javelin throwers made history on Wednesday (10 February) by becoming the first women to both throw further than 60 m at the same athletics meeting.  Read more

Rudy draws Lions iron nearer
This week the NWU Pukke sent an SOS to the Lions loose forward, Thabo Mamojele, after their Varsity Cup defeat on Monday against the University of Cape Town.   Read more

Rector’s Puk and Pukkie are scratching nest elsewhere
Oosterhof‘s welcoming present to the new rector during the hostel’s rector’s greeting has found new roosting ground at Strydomhuis on the Campus.  Read more

For the time being Joubert will keep the pruning scissors in the drawer
There is no reason for alarm in the NWU Puk camp in spite of this team’s humiliating defeat in its Varsity Cup match against Ikeys on Monday in Cape Town.   Read more

NWU Puk Alumni Club Championships
The NWU Puk Alumni Golf Club recently held its annual Club Championships.
  Rain disrupted play, but the players could complete their rounds. The Championships was determined in four sections, namely a women’s section and three sections according to players’ handicaps. 
Read more

15 000 falcons - a bewildering sight
This year Zoology students counted approximately 15 000 Amur Red-footed falcons that migrate to a tree in Ventersdorp annually.  Read more

RAG 2010: "Character"-building winning decorative float
This year’s Rag floats once more caught the eye with the creative variations of the theme Undreamt-of.    Read more

NWU Pukke want to pull Ikeys’ sting
The instruction to the NWU Puk’s Varsity Cup Team, on the eve of their show-down with the University of Cape Town, simply was: pull the sting of the Ikeys’ backs and tackle for all you are worth.
  These two teams join battle on Monday in the Mother City, following the Pukke’s dramatic victory of 35-24 over Tukkies in Pretoria earlier this week.  Read more

Engineering delivers international achievement
The doctoral thesis of a post-graduate student of the Faculty of Engineering at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University was recently announced as one of the three best in the world.
Read more

Alt-Heid Ver-lief wins first-year concert
The first-year concert once more brought huge excitement this year among hostels and especially the first-year students.
  However, it is Veritas and Heide (Alt-Heid Ver-lief) who were the winners. This was no surprise, since they also won most of the other categories.   Read more

Velodrome and BMX course possibly shortly a reality
An outdoor BMX Super Cross cycling course and Africa’s first indoor wooden cycling course or Velodrome will, as planned, be erected on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University before the end of the year.  Read more

Profile: Andries Mahoney
He is all but an over-night hero, says Andries Mahoney, crack scrum-half of the NWU Puk.
  Mahoney (25) led the Potchefstroomers with a hat-trick of tries on Monday, practically all by himself to victory in their first Varsity Cup match against Tuks.  Read more

Mahoney’s lightning-fast attacks sink Tukkies
Find a way to take the Puk lightning-fast little chap, Andries Mahoney, down a peg or two, or whistle for the Varsity Cup title.  Read more

First-years shine on athletics course
Villagers and Bellatrix continued the town hostels’ dominance on the athletics course by convincingly winning the first-year meeting gathering last weekend.
  Villagers ended with a mighty big 18 points in front of their nearest opponents, Heimat; whilst Bellatrix beat Dinki with 4 points. Read more

New rector wishes to improve successes even more
A good university is recognised for its excellence through the scholarship exercised by its personnel. We need to continue to improve the quality and quantity of our outputs.  Read more

NWU and City Council visit Spain
During the second half of January 2010 a delegating from Potchefstroom visited Madrid, the capital of Spain, to settle a number of matters after Spain’s confirmation that they will have their home-base in Potchefstroom during the Fifa World Cup Soccer Tournament.  
Read more

Pu cricket back on track
This weekend the first cricket team of the NWU Puk kept alive their attempt at a place in this year’s Club Championship Tournament by beating Impala 2 with an innings and 53 runs on the NWU Absa Oval.
Read more

Two popular members of staff celebrate their thirty years’ "commemoration" on 1 February
Horst Bütow and Christa Cloete together started the Culture Office on the Puk Campus in 1980. Horst is the head of the Culture Office and Christa the secretary. This month they are celebrating thirty years together as colleagues. Together they were responsible for establishing the department, which presently is known as Puk Arts.  Read more

Puk opponents will have double vision
One would excuse this year’s Varsity Cup contenders if they have double vision when they are confronted with the team of the NWU Puk during the next two months.  Read more

Puk spells danger in student series
The NWU Pukke’s rugby team sent out a very clear warning to the rest of this year’s Varsity Cup contenders by trumping the Griffons 40-36 in Welkom in the North-West Stadium on Saturday.
  With this victory the Pukke was the only university team to finish off a Curry Cup team this weekend.  Read more

Community greets ex-rector of the Puk
Last week the School of Theology and Faculty of Theology on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University arranged a farewell occasion for one of the Puk’s former rectors.
  Prof. Tjaart van der Walt and his wife Babie left for Australia on 26 January to go and live near Perth with their only daughter, Marianne Hoogenboezem and her family.  Read more

Dutch students, lecturers attend summer school
A group of thirteen postgraduate law students and lecturers from the University of Tilburg attended a Summer School at the NWU Puk Campus earlier this year. Students of the Mafikeng Campus also participated.  Read more

New rector welcomes the first-year students
“The Puk is a very good choice because here we are very serious about maintaining and expanding quality teaching.”
  This is the message Prof. Herman van Schalkwyk, campus rector of the NWU Puk, conveyed to approximately 4 300 first-year students during the official reception of first-year students for 2010.  Read more

Olympic champion is polishing for more golds on Puk fields
Andreas Thorkildsen believes the road to a golden Olympic medal runs through Potchefstroom.
  And he should know – this Norwegian javelin throwing champion has been polishing his talent alongside the Mooi River for the past seven years, and during this period he has already won the European, World and Olympic crown.  Read more

NWU Puk I gets ready for the season
A fuller stock cupboard is what the first rugby team of the NWU Puk will be harnessing to revenge its heart-rending defeat in the finals of last year’s FNB Varsity Cup. Read more