News

Christabell Lourens @_clourens_   The North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom campus boasts a brand-new facility: a high-tech virtual reality (VR) laboratory. On Friday, 23 August, the laboratory officially opened for the first time in the Community Psychosocial Research unit (Compres). The goals of this new addition to the research facilities on campus are admirable, with the main aims being more immersive training for students, better preparation for real-world scenarios and completely […]

Lesiba Dikhoba  @lesiba.dikhoba    The North-West University (NWU), Potchefstroom Campus, witnessed the official handover of the Students’ Campus Council (SCC) governing body on 21 August alongside the presentations of the SID awards.   The event took place at the Amphitheatre, with the outgoing SCC board for the 2023/2024 term handing over their positions to the newly elected members for the 2024/225 term. Ruben Coetzer was elected as the new SCC […]

Kgabo Senyatsi @kgabo.senyatsi   As the year is almost finished, the North West University (NWU) final-year students need to find employment. According to Stats SA, South Africa’s youth unemployment rate sits at 45.5%. The NWU Career Services is a centre that aims to address the challenges of youth unemployment by providing graduates with valuable knowledge so that they may become employable according to Nombulelo Malunga who is the Campus Liaison […]

Lesiba Dikhoba @lesiba.dikhoba In Potchefstroom, a group of dedicated individuals has come together to form Team Tomorrow, an initiative aimed at inspiring and uplifting the community. The group has quickly grown and gained recognition for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of those around them.   Team Tomorrow was launched in April by Hanro Potgieter and Calvin Walster, who had a collective desire to create meaningful change. […]

Lesiba Dikhoba @lesiba.dikhoba South Africa has enjoyed over 100 consecutive days without load shedding, marking the longest streak since 2020. This achievement is largely attributed to the enhanced performance of Eskom’s coal-fired stations. In recent months, students at the North-West University (NWU) have experienced an unusual break from load shedding — a disruption that had become a regular part of their lives. This unexpected break has brought relief to students. […]

Lesiba Dikhoba  @lesiba.dikhoba    North-West University (NWU) students, Tasmiyah Nakooda, Ulysses Makubika and Zaid Asvart finished within the top 3 teams in the Discovery GradHack Competition following a gruelling 72-hour virtual competition. Their project, an AI-powered lung disease detection system integrated with an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system to improve healthcare diagnostics and patient outcomes, secured them a fully paid trip to Sandton to present their project to Discovery’s CEOs.  […]

Christabell Lourens @_clourens_ Dr Monray Williams, a biochemistry lecturer and researcher at the North-West University, joined Dr Odendaal on the Mail and Guardian’s (M&G) 200 Young South Africans award stage.  (See https://pukfm.com/2024/07/29/from-the-classroom-to-the-mg-award-stage/ for Dr Odendaal’s feature.) The M&G Award is a highly esteemed prize awarded each year. Obtaining the award is definitely not a walk in the park. Per the official Mail and Guardian page, candidates must be nominated by […]

Kgabo Senyatsi @kgabo.senyatsi   The Government of National Unity (GNU) has introduced Dr Nobuhle Nkabane as the Minister of Higher Education and Training, succeeding Dr Blade Nzimande. According to an interview with University World News, Dr Nkabane pledged to fix students' issues and fully prioritise their needs, ultimately improving the state of higher education institutions. The newly formed departmental initiatives effect students nationwide, including those of the North-West University (NWU).  […]

Lesiba Dikhoba  @lesiba.dikhoba  In recent years, the rising expense of higher education in South Africa has become a critical concern — sparking widespread discussions and protests across the country. For countless students, the aspirations of obtaining a degree are overshadowed by the tough reality of financial constraints.  The financial constraints of higher education extend beyond tuition fees, these demands include accommodation, textbooks, and daily expenses which adds to the burden. […]