2022 has seen the inauguration of Prof Bismark Tyobeka as the third vice-chancellor of the North-West University and the start of a new era at the South African institution. The university will seek to scale up its impact on society through its internationalisation agenda and increased public-private partnerships in research and education.
Prof Tyobeka says that since the inception of the NWU the university has lived up to the demands and expectations of its stakeholders.
“However, we can do more. We are poised to achieve even more and to continue to play a key role in finding solutions for societal problems to unlock opportunities for our stakeholders. Therefore, we must strengthen our resolve to be an internationally recognised university in Africa, distinguished for engaged scholarship, academic excellence and an ethic of care.”
The vice-chancellor stated that the inauguration marks the start of a journey that will be characterised by the consolidation of the NWU’s successes and the repositioning of the university to explore new frontiers and opportunities – nationally and internationally.
Key Opportunities at North-West University
Prof Tyobeka has announced a focus on key issues which will shape the future of North-West University and, by extension, its impact on South Africa and the African continent:
- Internationalisation and Africanisation.
- Strategic collaboration initiatives towards improving food security within North West province.
- Exploring the feasibility of a school of mines and mining engineering, and deploying innovative solutions towards energy and water security on the university’s campuses.
- Public-private partnerships and the diversification of income streams.
- The establishment of medical and veterinary schools.
- Increasing graduate employability and entrepreneurship development.
- The decolonisation of the curriculum and the sustained impact on the NWU’s research and community engagement programmes.
Prof Tyobeka said “We wish to make an impactful contribution towards building the capacity of the state, including through the partnerships that we have recently been involved in, such as the one we have with the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). Strengthening relations and cooperation with local government will also receive our special attention.”
North-West University has long been fostering a culture of research & development. Recently, researchers at the university have been working with colleagues from private sector companies to jointly develop, commercialise and patent products.
The university is recognised in particular for quality subject offerings in the fields of atmospheric science, clinical medicine, education, hospitality and tourism management, and public health.
In addition to research projects with private industry, the university has engaged with African governments on environmental and engineering science research projects.
Explore the North-West University Content Hub on AfricaLive.net to see how the university is engaging in critical research to uplift the African continent. Key features:
Using nanotechnology for food security and environmental protection
One of the most challenging anxieties of the 21st century is safeguarding food security for the world’s exponentially growing population, as stipulated by goal 2 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to projections, the global food demand is expected to rise between 60 to 98% by 2050, with a population of more than 9 billion.
Under this irreversible pressure, demand for cereals is projected to reach 3 billion tonnes by 2050. It is worth noting that in sub-Saharan Africa, increased use of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) fertilizers and chemical pesticides is associated with meeting SDGs to improve agricultural productivity and end malnutrition and hunger.
Now, a team of seven postgraduate students and three academic staff at the NWU are using this approach, coupled with nanotechnology, to secure future food supply while protecting our environment.
North-West University on the quest to save our freshwater sources
South Africa’s freshwater sources are under pressure from various kinds of contaminants, and NWU researchers are searching for ways to keep track of some of the more elusive pollutants.
Prof Rialet Pieters, a researcher in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, is an ecotoxicologist whose interests lie in organic chemical pollutants and their harmful effects on humans and wildlife.
Studies have determined that the quality of available freshwater is declining rapidly because of changing weather patterns, as well as human-related activity.
North-West University named among the most committed towards environmental and social change
Universities have a pivotal role to play in finding solutions to pressing environmental and social questions. The latest ranking by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) agency places the North-West University (NWU) among the top global and local universities when it comes to environmental and social sustainability.
QS ranked the NWU in the overall 281 to 300 categories out of 700 of the best global institutions from 71 locations. The NWU is placed among the top seven South African universities in both the social and environmental impact categories of the ranking.
Night-time cooking with solar is possible with thermal energy storage
With the aid of thermal energy storage systems it is possible to use solar cookers to prepare hot meals at night. Some systems perform better than others though, and there is room for improvement. This is according to Prof Ashmore Mawire of the Solar Thermal research group at the NWU.
He recently gave a public lecture at which he presented past and recent research results of the group, which is located in the Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) research focus area.
NWU Heads SA Core Team in Fight against Neuromuscular Diseases
The social and economic impact of neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) is staggering.
These diseases, which include motor neuron disease and muscular dystrophies, can cause premature death or lifelong disability and are believed to affect one in every 400 people – meaning about 20 million children and adults across the globe.
There is hope on the international front, however. Precise genetic diagnoses, gene discoveries and new therapies are having a positive impact on patient care and well-being in developed countries.
This is not yet the case in developing countries with under-studied populations such as South Africa, where more research is desperately needed to develop effective genetic diagnoses and treatments for rare inherited disorders such as NMDs.
This is where the North-West University (NWU) is playing an important role, both as partner in an international collaborative study and as coordinator of the core South African team that will investigate NMD in the region.
The Plastic Problem: NWU Researchers highlight Major Data Gaps
Researchers at the university discovered major data gaps related to marine plastic pollution produced in South Africa.
The research highlighted that in order to tailor a plastic policy for the country, more spatial and temporal data are needed (especially for freshwater bodies). This will determine areas in need of protection, areas under highest threat, and processes that may be targeted for intervention.
Putting Edible Insects on the Menu
Many South Africans perceive insects as disease-carriers and crop destroyers, instead of noting the crucial role they play in food security, soil improvement, nutrition and pollination.
In fact, in the North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, flying ants, grasshoppers, mopane worms, African metallic wood-boring beetles and edible stinkbugs are delicacies.
To educate the public about this multi-million Rand industry, researchers from the North-West University (NWU) and Rikkyo University in Japan were tasked with decoding indigenous knowledge systems of the mopane worm and the edible stinkbug for the school curriculum.
Getting the Most Out Of Medicinal Plant Extracts With Nanotechnology
A North-West University (NWU) graduate is bringing together age-old plant knowledge and the latest nanotechnology to make the most of medicinal plant extracts.
According to a United States National Nanotechnology Initiative, nanotechnology is currently revolutionising the technology and industrial sectors. These include information technology, homeland security, medicine, transportation, energy, food safety and environmental science, among many others.
MSc graduate Pule Silent Seboletswe recently conducted research into how nanotechnology can help in finding solutions for problems related to the use of natural products for therapeutic purposes.
Reading Literacy: NWU Closes Gap Between Theory and Practice.
“Teaching reading is rocket science.” This quote by Louisa Moats underlines the importance of reading literacy, and that is why researchers and teacher educators from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education are taking the lead to promote reading literacy in the foundation phase.
They are of the opinion that the reality of teachers needing better resources, preparation and professional development to carry out deliberate instruction in reading, spelling, and writing, should prompt action rather than criticism.
These NWU researchers and teacher educators are involved in two projects that address reading literacy initiatives in South Africa. They are the Strengthening Foundation Phase Teacher Education and the Work-integrated Learning projects, which form part of the Teaching and Learning Development Capacity Improvement Programme.
NWU Among the Best In Engineering Studies
The North-West University (NWU) is one of the top institutions in South Africa in engineering studies. This is according to the latest rankings by subject by Times Higher Education (THE) that list the NWU in the third position (the same as last year) among nine local higher-education institutions in the field of engineering.
THE placed the NWU in the 401 to 500 category globally ― the same category as in last year’s ranking. The NWU was measured against 1 188 universities worldwide.
The rankings were announced on 6 October and highlight the universities that are leading across the engineering disciplines, which include general engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, civil engineering, and chemical engineering.
Evaluating the Potential Of South African Medicinal Plants As A Treatment For Depression
North-West University (NWU) academic Dr Makhotso Lekhooa is investigating the possibility that an indigenous plant can be used to treat depression.
This research is very applicable as the World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that 4,4% of the global population suffers from depression, while in South Africa this percentage amounts to 4,6 %.
Moreover, South-Africa also has a poor response rate, with less than 50% of patients achieving remission and battling adverse side effects.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is having a detrimental effect on the health and economy of the world, and as such the prevalence of depression is expected to increase,” says Dr Lekhooa, a senior lecturer at the DST/NWU Pre-Clinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP).
Dr Lekhooa’s research topic was “Evaluating the effects of South African medicinal plants such as Sceletium tortuosum in an animal model of depression”.
NWU Researcher Collaborates In International Fungi Study
The fungus that spoils bread does not work alone. It has guests hidden deep within its cells – bacteria – with whom it has a mutually beneficial relationship that can be positive or negative for humans. Understanding and modifying this relationship can have a profound impact on the food, medical and agricultural industries.
This is the focus of a four-year international collaboration between the North-West University (NWU) and two universities in the United States. It is part of a new grant that enables Prof Rasheed Adeleke, NWU researcher and associate professor of microbiology and soil sciences, and his American counterparts to determine how the fungi-bacterial relationship can be managed to limit food spoilage, fight diseases and ensure better food crops.
Prof Adeleke says the specific fungi are driven by a bacterial symbiosis. “We investigate to what extent, if any, fungal growth is impacted by the presence and nature of their bacterial symbionts, whether this entails killing bacteria or mass producing them. We want to determine the extent that the fungi can survive on their own and the implications of it.”
Tree Plantations are Harming Ecosystems
Replacing native forests with tree plantations is harming the soil at a microbial level by having an impact on soil fertility and the health of the planet.
This is one of the conclusions of North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Olubukola Oluranti Babalola – who along with Dr Adenike Eunice Amoo – recently conducted ground-breaking research to investigate the impact of land-use change on soil bacterial communities and characteristics.
“Soil microbial communities are an important part of ecosystems and possess the capability to improve ecosystem services. However, several aspects of the ecology of forest soil bacterial communities are still unknown,” says Prof Babalola.
Project Team Wants All University Students to Have Access to Indigenous African Languages
University students who have a mother tongue other than English should not be at a disadvantage compared to those who do speak English at home. This is why it is important to level the language playing field.
The North-West University (NWU) is one of four tertiary education institutions in South Africa to work with three European universities to facilitate and promote the use of indigenous African languages as mediums of instruction in tertiary education.
Known as BAQONDE, the project name stands for Boosting the Use of African Languages in Education; A Qualified Organised Nationwide Development Strategy for South Africa. It is a collaborative capacity-building project that seeks to provide all university students with access to the use of African languages so that they can reach their full potential.
Plants Offer Home-grown Solutions to Healthcare
Approximately 80% of South Africa’s population depends on medicinal plants for their healthcare needs, leading to an increased interest in the commercialisation of plant-based remedies.
Research by Tshepiso Ndhlovu, a PhD candidate at the North-West University (NWU), is shedding light on the potential of medicinal plants in the skincare market and in the treatment of childhood diseases.
The use of medicinal plants in treating childhood diseases is the current focus of Tshepiso, who is busy with his PhD on the topic. This follows his master’s research, which showed that VhaVenda women in Limpopo have the potential to develop and sell low-cost medicinal plant skincare products that can improve their socio-economic well-being.
Stimulating expert dialogues across our borders
The Business School of the North-West University (NWU) proudly launched its first formal African outreach initiative on 11 August in Gaborone, Botswana.
Some 80 delegates from the Botswana government, the formal business sector and staff from various universities attended the event.
The first Business School alumni chapter was also formally launched during the function.
North-West University and DARD sign Mou
On 27 January 2023 the North-West University (NWU) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), representing the Potchefstroom College of Agriculture and the Taung Agricultural College, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus. The objective of the MoU was to offer a framework for cooperation between the parties in pursuit of their respective statutory tasks and on a variety of mutually beneficial topics.
