The North-West University School of Business and Governance (NWU-SBG) unveiled its new state-of-the-art facilities on 18 August in Potchefstroom.
The new building, which houses two lecture rooms, a conference room, reception hall, modern kitchen and various administrative offices, is fully equipped to take the newly formed NWU-SBG further into the realm of open distance learning while also providing excellent contact learning of international standards.
Each of the two lecture halls can accommodate 60 students at a time and can also be joined to house 120 students or delegates. The halls are equipped with six cameras that will record and post lectures on the NWU’s online learning and collaboration environment, eFundi.
The building also serves as an administrative hub for the NWU-SBG and includes the director’s office and marketing, public relations and communication offices.
The NWU-SBG has three sites of delivery – the Mafikeng Campus, Potchefstroom Campus and the Vaal Triangle Campus. The sites differentiate themselves in their marketing and by serving specific market niches.
Prof Tommy du Plessis, director of the NWU-SBG, says they have already presented two courses in the new lecturing halls in the week prior to the official unveiling. It will also be used during the upcoming Aardklop Arts Festival this year.
Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, acting rector of the Potchefstroom Campus, and Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor, unveiled the plaque of the new facilities for the NWU School of Business and Governance.
“It is exactly what we need for the school to function at its best and generate much-needed third-stream income for the university.”
- Prof Tommy du Plessis, director of the NWU-SBG
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The new lecturing facilities also meet the accreditation criteria of the Association of MBAs. This refers to the aesthetic “look and feel” of the facilities, as well as the technological advancement of equipment such as Wi-Fi and video-conferencing.
Site has a rich history
The new facilities of the NWU-SBG are housed in the original Standard Bank building in Potchefstroom next to the President Pretorius Museum.
The first residents of the grounds were Tswana farmers in the 1500s who were later displaced by King Shaka Zulu in 1825. The grounds later became the farm Rietfontein before being incorporated into the town of Potchefstroom with its establishment in 1838.
It was part of a grant of 300 morgen that was given to the first president of the South African Republic, Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, in the late 1800s. It was used as part of his original cattle pen and hen house. It later became a camping site during the Boer War.
A lecture hall was erected in the late 1980s on this site by the Potchefstroom Teaching College and was sponsored by Standard Bank.
“This is indeed a great facility and the university as a whole can be very proud of it. It is a perfect example of the level of quality we at the NWU are striving for.”
- Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor
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