NWU boasts more than 6 000 first-year students

Institutional Office – The Vice Chancellor and the three Rectors of the North-West University (NWU) had their hands full when they welcomed about 6 200 first-year students on the different campuses.

At the Potchefstroom Campus approximately 4 200 applicants from about 4 800 were accepted, while the Mafikeng Campus boasted 1 200 applicants. More than 800 first-year students were also registered on the Vaal Triangle Campus – a record number of registrations.

Prof Annette Combrink, Rector of the Potchefstroom Campus, welcomed the first-year students on 17 January, when more than 12 000 people visited this campus. Prof Piet Prinsloo, Rector of the Vaal Triangle Campus, welcomed his first-year students on the 23rd, while Prof Dan Ngwadi, Rector of the Mafikeng Campus, welcomed his newcomers on the 26th.

In his speech to the students and their parents the Vice Chancellor, Dr Theuns Eloff, focussed on the University as an important and distinguished role player in the field of higher education in South Africa. He also mentioned that the University could now finally close the chapter on the merger and could go forward with confidence.

Highlights that Dr Eloff mentioned included the University’s first place in the 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Higher Education Excellence Award for Corporate Governance, the award by the Pan-South African Language Board for the biggest contribution towards multilingualism and nation building during the past ten years in the South African sector for higher education, as well as the NWU’s nomination by the Department of Science and Technology as the most progressive technologically innovative university in South Africa.

The Vice Chancellor, Dr Theuns Eloff, handled the opening on the Vaal Triangle Campus. Here he is surrounded by first-year students as well as the Campus Rector, Prof Piet Prinsloo, and the chairman of the Student Council, Siphiwe Mbata.

One of the well-known broadcasters on Radio Sonder Grense (RSG), Mr Niekie van den Berg, registered his youngest daughter, Carla, at the Potchefstroom Campus. Carla was in Florida High School and is going to study BA Communication Studies.

Some of the first-year students who were registered at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU). From left to right are Edward Dipheko of Ga-Khunwama in North-West, who is going to study Education, Corné Zandberg of Reitz, who is going to study BCom Law, Dr Theuns Eloff, Vice Chancellor of the NWU, Prof Annette Combrink, Campus Rector, and Dale Abercrombie of Mafikeng, who will study LLB. In front are two school friends from Alberton, Inge Venter, who will study BA Human Movement Studies, and Mandy Ryan, who is going to study BSc Microbiology.

A first-year student on his arrival at the Mafikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU).