NWU’s Ndumiso is Mzansi’s newest One Day Leader

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SAS Institute and NWU join forces

The Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (BMI), the North-West University (NWU) frontrunner in bridging the gap between academia and industry, has introduced a new master’s programme in Advanced Business Analytics.

This new degree runs parallel with the existing Quantitative Risk Management (QRM) programme, whose alumni continue to achieve high regard in the financial industry.

The Business Analytics degree aspires to produce analytics professionals with the skills required to add value in the contemporary big data environment, a world where market players are accumulating such vast quantities of data that the traditional methods of analysis are no longer practical or appropriate.

Interdict granted to the North-West University (NWU)

Institutional Office - On 9 May 2013, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria granted an interim interdict to the North-West University, preventing the Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN) from defaming the university.

The interdict ordered the HETN and its directors to immediately stop publishing any further defamatory statements about the university on any platform, and they were ordered to remove a defamatory post, depicting the university as "racists, Nazis and criminals", from all social media platforms, including HETN's website, Facebook, Twitter and Dropbox.

North-West University (NWU) launches Leadership and Management Academy

Institutional Office – On 6 May 2013, a group of selected guests witnessed the launch of the new NWU Leadership and Management Academy in Sandton. The Academy was created through a partnership with thinking fusion Consulting (Pty) Ltd, a leadership development company that has trained over 1 500 leaders throughout South Africa over the past five years.

NWU’s Elroy Gelant runs like blazes

Mr Elroy Gelant, a client service assistant at Human Capital in the Institutional Office of the North-West University (NWU), ran the fastest 10 000 m and 5 000 m races that South-Africa has seen in many years.

Elroy, who is currently running for the Traumeel NWU-Pukke team, won gold in both items during the recent University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships in Durban.

He zipped through the 10 000 m with a time of 27:41,30 – missing the qualifying standard for the World Championships by only 1,30 seconds. What makes this feat even more remarkable is the fact that this is only the third 10 000 m that he has competed in so far.

Max du Preez becomes extraordinary professor at NWU

Mr Max du Preez, experienced journalist, writer and political commentator, has just been appointed as extraordinary professor in the School of Communication Studies on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

NWU empowers graduates

Through the NWU Career Centre, the North West University (NWU) recently became a member of the South African Graduates Development Association (SAGDA) in an effort to prepare its students for the corporate world.

Giving meaning to this new found partnership, the Career Centre in collaboration with SAGDA organised the first in a series of Graduate Empowerment seminars, which took place on 12 April 2013 on the Vaal Triangle Campus.

Religion plays a role at the NWU

Religion plays an important role in science practice and definitely has a place at modern research universities, including the NWU.

This was the message that Dr Theuns Eloff, the vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), conveyed at a conference at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom on 5 April 2013.

The conference, with the theme Religion and the idea of a university, was hosted by the School of Divinity at Cambridge.

Dr Eloff represented the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) as a speaker from Africa at the event. In addition to being the only speaker from Africa, he was also the only person speaking from a reformatory angle.

North-West University’s (NWU) reaction to unfounded allegations

Institutional Office - The North-West University seriously objects to unfounded allegations made against the university on various platforms by individuals and organisations.

The latest allegations relate to the student who was provisionally suspended as chairperson of the Institutional Representative Student Council, pending the finalisation of a disciplinary hearing. The impression is created that he was suspended as NWU student and as chairperson of the Mafikeng Campus’s Student Representative Council, which is not the case.

What makes it especially regrettable is that these individuals and organisations exploit the tragic death of Thabang Makhoang to divert the attention from real matters between them and the NWU, or to use it for political gain.

Disciplinary measures: Member of the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) - North-West University (NWU)

Institutional Office - Following the finalisation of the investigation into the alleged misconduct of the president of the ISRC of the NWU, a decision was taken that the student in question will be charged disciplinary for allegedly contravening a section of the university’s Statute.

The student will be charged because his conduct was detrimental or might have been detrimental to the good name, order, discipline or performance of the work of the university or any part of the university.  This relates to the fact that he allegedly acted without a mandate and in an unauthorised manner on behalf of the ISRC and in contravention of the NWU media policy approved by Council.

Bulletjie rugby is deplorable

The South African Rugby Union must ensure that bulletjie rugby (rugby played by young children) is banned in all schools. This is the opinion of Prof Cilas Wilders, a biokineticist at the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus.

The popularity of bulletjie rugby at pre- and primary-school level has increased significantly over the past few years, but – he says – this type of exposure to sport at such a young age can harm a child emotionally for the rest of his life.

NWU Potchefstroom Campus yields first female judge

The Faculty of Law of the North-West University's (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus yielded its first female judge on Thursday 11 April 2013 when Ms Leonie Windell was nominated by the Judicial Service Commission as judge for the Supreme Court in either Pretoria or Johannesburg.

Leonie, originally from Lady Frere in the Eastern Cape and matriculant of Witteberg High School in Bethlehem, completed her BJuris degree at the former Potchefstroom University of Christian Higher Education (PU for CHE) in 1988.

She began her career as public prosecutor in 1989, was appointed as magistrate in Secunda in 1993 and served for 18 years as magistrate in Potchefstroom before she started to act as judge in 2011.

"It has not sunk in yet! I feel humble, it is a great honour," she says.

NWU’s response to minister and Hawks’ new investigation with regard to 2012 drowning

The untimely and tragic death of Thabang Makhoang was a shock to the Council of the North-West University and to the university community as a whole. Each young life lost means one less building block for our country and its future.

In 2012 the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, requested an inquiry into Thabang's death and the university pledged its full support and cooperation. It also gave its full support to the police in their investigation and the university launched its own independent investigation headed by two senior advocates, Vusi Pikoli SC and Lourens de Koning SC.

The outcome of this investigation and the subsequent report was given to the Deputy Director General at the Department of Higher Education and Training, who acknowledged the receipt thereof.

NWU empowers female entrepreneurs

The Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) on the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University recently launched its Enterprising Women Programme to assist female entrepreneurs to achieve their goals and realise their business dreams.

The EDC is committed to not only provide female entrepreneurs with the skills to grow their businesses, but also to serve as a platform from where these businesses can be launched as long-term building blocks for economic sustainability.

NWU do trail-blasing work for mother tongue education

Eight students from the Royal Bafokeng who were educated in their mother tongue, Setswana, recently obtained their BEd degrees (Foundation Phase Education) from the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

This is the result of an initiative between the NWU and the Royal Bafokeng in response to a shortage of foundation-phase teachers who are equipped to teach in the vernacular, says Prof Barry Richter, director of the School of Natural Sciences and Technology for Education.

Only 12 of the 23 universities in South Africa offer a foundation-phase qualification, and the Faculty of Education at the NWU took it a step further by offering the degree in an African language.

NWU-book to help farmers and speculators in grain industry a first in SA

A book to inform farmers in South Africa and speculators in the grain industry about the short and long of derivative markets, is a first in South Africa.

The book entitled Kort en Lank van Termynmarkte: SAFEX, Graanverskansing, Spekulasie, was written by Dr Mariëtte Geyser from the Research Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

Dr Geyser saw the need in the market for such a book and published it with the help of the NWU.

Prof Herman van Schalkwyk, campus rector, says he is proud of this publication, which can be used with success in the agricultural industry. “Although the Potchefstroom Campus does not offer agriculture as degree course, a lot of research is done here to fill the gaps in agriculture in the area.”

 NWU involved with new generation aircraft

Engineering students at the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus have decided to grab a highly specialised bull by the horns and are now part of a unique research team that is developing a new generation helicopter and airplane in collaboration with Denel Aviation.

Denel approached several universities, amongst which the NWU, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the University of Pretoria, to be part of the research and development of their project.

NWU SRCS donates R1,4 million to charity

The Student Rag Community Service (SRCS) at the North-West University’s (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus has kicked off the year with renewed commitment to approximately 92 projects in the Potchefstroom area. In addition, the SRCS has donated about R1,4 million, collected during RAG this year, to deserving projects and individuals.

“It is wonderful to be able to pay out such an amount to the community. We collect small amounts during the year, and it’s unbelievable to then see the final total,” says Juaan Taute, Student Council member: SRCS.

NWU part of collaboration on Mandela 27 Years Project

Vaal Triangle Campus - The Serious Games Institute-South Africa (SGI-SA) on the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU) will partner with the European Union on the development of a Mandela 27 Years Project to promote intercultural dialogue in a medium young people are most familiar with.

The project, known as Mandela27 – is based on the iconic story of Nelson Mandela and the globally recognised Robben Island Museum. It involves a physical display of Mandela’s prison cell – housing a variety of cultural stories and artefacts – and an eCulture platform.

International profile grows in leaps and bounds

The International Office on the Vaal Triangle Campus is making strong headway and the internationalisation of the campus is well under way, according to Ms Angelique van Rensburg, head of the office.

AFCON 2013: SA misses golden tourism opportunity

South Africa’s hosting of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) cannot be regarded as successful – not in light of the fact that the government missed a golden opportunity to market the country as a tourism destination in emerging African markets.

According to Prof Melville Saayman, head of the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus) research institute Tourism Research, Economics, Environment and Society (Trees), the government should be held accountable for a bad decision that will eventually cost the country millions in potential revenue.

NWU opens state of the art fluid extraction lab

The North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) officially opened state of the art super critical fluid extraction laboratory and pilot plant, a first for Africa.

This green technology makes use of super critical CO2 as the solvent, and is used to safely extract among others essential oils, flavourings and other compounds used in the cosmetic, food and medicinal extract industry.  As a result of the relatively low temperatures involved and the fact that CO2 is used as the solvent, the compounds are extracted without thermal damage or adding harmful chemicals.

Through the eyes of township girls

The girls in risk reduction leadership project, under the leadership of Kylah Forbes-Biggs, recently used the photovoice technique to let girls in Kanana township tell their stories. The technique allowed the girls to document their feelings on a particular topic or event through the use of photography.

Establishment in 2008, the project focuses on identifying and reducing the vulnerability of adolescent girls by providing them with information, education and skills to make better life choices and improve their resilience.

The project is designed to increase knowledge for empowerment, encourage leadership development and improve the resilience of marginalised, poor South African adolescent girls while helping to integrate them into disaster risk reduction initiatives. Furthermore, the project aspires to use a gendered approach to reducing social vulnerability and thus risk.

NWU lecturer appointed as advisory member for British Pharmacopoeia

The British Pharmacopoeia Commission (BPC) appointed Dr Marius Brits as member of the Expert Advisory Group MC2 (Medicinal Chemicals) to advise the BPC in carrying out its duties. Dr Brits is associated with the Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy (RIIP), incorporating the Centre for Quality Assurance of Medicines (CENQAM)® on the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU).

“The British Pharmacopoeia aims to have adequate representation from a number of Commonwealth countries (Australia, Canada and South Africa) and I will represent South Africa in this process. I will also provide guidance and assistance to the BPC with the draft of monographs for the quality assurance of medicines,” says Dr Brits.