The university's most productive, most creative and most innovative researchers and inventors have been singled out for high praise. The annual NWU Excellence Awards ceremony for outstanding staff took place in Potchefstroom on 23 November.

These achievers were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to teaching and learning, community engagement and research and innovation.

Excellence in action

Researchers and innovators received awards in various categories during the research segment of the awards, which also acknowledged the NWU's Research Chairs and researchers with ratings from the National Research Foundation.

Prof Ruan Kruger from the Faculty of Health Sciences is the Most Productive Senior Researcher, with Prof Peet van der Merwe (Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences) and Prof Neels Kilian (Faculty of Law) being the first runner-up and second runner-up respectively.

The Most Productive Emerging Researcher is Prof Marko van Deventer from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, with Prof Yolandi Breet from the Faculty of Health Sciences as first runner-up.

Prof Francois van der Westhuizen and Prof Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, both from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, both received the National and International Recognition and Membership Award.

The top inventors were Prof Dmitri Bessarabov and Prof Faan du Preez, both from the Faculty of Engineering, and Prof Petro Erasmus from the Faculty of Health Sciences was awarded the Innovation Impact Award.

This year's Creative Output Award went to Lesego Motlhankane of the Faculty of Education.

Click here for the complete list of winners.