Vol 3 2017

NWU taking research to new heights

Welcome to the third edition of the North-West University's newsletter, Research@NWU.

The aim of the newsletter is to showcase research projects, researchers and related events.

Follow this link to see Prof Frikkie van Niekerk, the NWU's acting deputy vice-chancellor for research, innovation and technology, speak about new opportunities in research.

NWU appoints new deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation

The NWU Council appointed a new deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation during its extraordinary meeting on 17 August.

Prof Nancy (Refilwe) Phaswana-Mafuya will serve in this position from October for a term of five years.

NWU's nuclear programme gets international green light

The NWU is one of only three universities in the world whose master’s degree in nuclear engineering has been recommended for accreditation.This follows after the International Nuclear Management Academy (INMA) recommended that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) accredit the NWU’s master’s degree in nuclear engineering with specialisation in nuclear technology management.

Joe-Nimique Cilliers, lecturer, developer and the person responsible for the implementation of the NWU’s INMA programme at the School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, says the peer review that was done as part of the IAEA’s INMA initiative, was conducted in June at the NWU in Potchefstroom and at Wits in Johannesburg.

Serious game to alleviate statistics headache

When it comes to learning and understanding statistics, many students see the subject as daunting. The team from Serious Games: South Africa (SGI-SA) took up the challenge and proposed a serious game approach.

Teachers without borders: reaching out to educators

The 21st century is a challenging time and it is important that both teachers and school learners become self-directed learners.
The NWU's research focus area for Self-directed Learning (SDL), under the directorship of Prof Elsa Mentz, focuses especially on indigenous knowledge for self-directed learning in the science and mathematics classroom.

Special Economic Zone in Mahikeng: viable but not cure-all

A Special Economic Zone in Mahikeng with an agro-processing focus could hold economic benefits for the city and the North West Province - provided there is sufficient policy and planning support.
This is according to a study done by the NWU's TRADE research entity at the request of the North West Provincial Government’s Department of Finance, Economy and Enterprise Development.

Students and community take hands

Creating a better community requires teamwork, partnerships and collaboration, with an army of champions working together to build a better tomorrow.
This is the purpose of a partnership between the NWU, the Vaal LED Warriors and the community of Sharpeville, according to Prof Danie Meyer, senior lecturer in Economics on the campus in Vanderbijlpark.

Master's research on oyster mushrooms makes student cream of the crop

PhD student, Sidwell Sihlangu, has been awarded a prize worth R20 000 for the best-researched journal in scientific innovation at the Provincial Youth in Agriculture Awards for his master’s research on cultivating oyster mushrooms in the arid climate of Mahikeng.

The awards ceremony was hosted by the North West Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) as part of the second Provincial Youth in Agricultural Awards (YAA).

The awards are aimed at encouraging and acknowledging excellence in agricultureamong the youth.

More activities needed to promote early object control skills

Under the guidance of physical education teachers, schoolgirls in South Africa should be exposed to more activities that promote early object control skills.

Lecturer contributes to world's knowledge treasures

Language fascinates Prof Bertus van Rooy, who thrives on the intricacies of human expression through language and, for his efforts, has moved up from B3 to B2 in the National Research Foundation (NRF) rating system.

Bertus is a lecturer in languages and director of the research focus area Understanding and Processing Language in Complex Settings (UPSET) at the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark.

Please share your comments and input by sending an email to the newsletter editor, willie.duplessis@nwu.ac.za