A Mozilla-funded project in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology is teaching first-year ICT students to weigh the social consequences of the technology they build, starting in their first year rather than their last. Forty-four first-year ICT students
In a recent article published by The Conversation, titled “South Africa’s privacy laws are evolving, but vulnerable people are being left behind,” Sol Plaatje University lecturer Mr Phumezo Ntlatywa explores how South Africa’s privacy landscape is changing and why stronger
Ms Bongiwe Nqobile Mabhena, has excelled; her team secured first place at the Wetskills South Africa programme held from 12 to 24 July 2026. The Wetskills programme is a prestigious innovation workshop focused on addressing critical water challenges. Originally from
On 8 April 2026, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted its inaugural Dean’s Merit Awards Ceremony, bringing together students, academic leadership, faculty and administrative staff in recognition of outstanding academic performance across faculties. The awards were introduced to publicly recognise top-performing
Gloria Pucoe, who is completing her MSc in eScience at Sol Plaatje University (SPU), has been recognised as a finalist in the Rising Star: AI and Data Innovation category at the 2026 Wired4Women Awards, with winners to be announced on
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence and Long Service Awards on Monday, 8 December, honouring staff whose exceptional work, dedication and achievements give living expression to the University’s mission. Their contributions uphold SPU’s commitment to delivering high quality
Four academics from the Faculties of Natural and Applied Sciences and Humanities have been listed among the world’s top 2 percent most cited scientists in the 2025 Stanford and Elsevier global citation rankings. The list draws on Scopus data and
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is celebrating a notable academic achievement in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences. Dimitria Maurition van Wyk, a BSc Honours student in Physical Science (Chemistry), has been awarded Best Young Water Scientist (Poster Category) at
On Monday 29 September 2025, Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, in collaboration with the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Arid Lands Node, hosted a Grade 11 Science Camp on Central Campus. SAEON is a
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences to host Kaonafatso ya Dikgomo (KyD) Famer’s Day event on Friday, 5 September 2025 at South Campus Multipurpose Hall. The KyD scheme was established to facilitate the participation of smallholder
Mr Freddie Manyate’s journey of growth, purpose and giving back has come full-circle. A determined and purpose driven student he completed a Diploma in Information and Communication Technology at SPU in 2021 and then progressed to the Advanced Diploma in
Ms Rejoice Chitengu was recently recognised among the Top 15 Young Geeks of 2025, a competition that aims to challenge and persuade local techies to reach greater heights, master their craft and play role in creating mass impact that uplifts
SPU congratulates Dr Simbarashe Jombo, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, who has been awarded a National Research Foundation (NRF) Y2 rating, (effective since January 2025). This recognition, granted by the NRF acknowledges his established
Prof Nicola Bragazzi, a Senior Researcher at the University of Parma in Italy, recently concluded a one-month visit to SPU’s Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences where he served as a Visiting Professor. Prof Bragazzi is a globally recognised academic
Omphile Bertha Taele, SPU’s recipient of the prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary, has returned from an enriching educational tour that broadened her academic and personal horizons. The journey began in Cape Town, where she explored iconic sites like Robben Island
Sol Plaatje University (SPU), in collaboration with the Water Research Commission (WRC), officially launched the Arid Region Water Research Centre (ARWRC) on Monday, 14 April 2025. The event marked a significant milestone in addressing critical water security issues affecting the
On Saturday, 12 April 2025, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted its annual Open Day for high school learners, their families, school principals and teachers. The day began with the Vice-Chancellor’s Breakfast for School Principals which was live streamed to satellite
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) students showcased their talent and innovation on the national stage, excelling in the 2024 Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC) National Conference. Competing in the Data Intensive Research Initiative of South Africa (DIRISA) Student Datathon and the
SPU’s Prof Nhamo Chaukura, Acting Head of the Department of Physical and Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, and his team have achieved a significant milestone with the publication of their study, Profiling the bacterial microbiome
On 15 August 2024, 25 final-year ICT students from SPU were awarded fellowships at the Digital Fellowship Programme Launch and Student Welcome Ceremony. Dr Silas Verkijika, Acting Director of the Centre for Applied Data Science, highlighted the collaboration as the
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) proudly leads as a digitally empowered university, pioneering undergraduate data science education, boasting a comprehensive digital library, and striving to be a digitally enhanced using digital technologies to augment the University’s operations, academic delivery, and research
In September 2021, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) saw the establishment of the Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) under the erstwhile School of Natural and Applied Sciences. This initiative was part of the Department of Science and Innovation’s (DSI) Global
As Sol Plaatje University (SPU) continues to pioneer digital advancements, we are immensely proud of the strides made by our Geekulcha Student Society (GKSS) members who rocked the stage for the second consecutive year at the ITWeb Security Summit 2024
Front: Mr David Makomane. Back row, left to right: Mr Liyema Swartbooi, Mrs Eva Mamabolo and Mr Chris Kruger In a remarkable showcase of talent and innovation, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) students achieved second place in the prestigious L’Oréal Brandstorm
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) is delighted to introduce Professor Odireleng Martin Ntwaeaborwa, our first Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences. With an impressive track record in academia Professor Ntwaeaborwa is poised to transform the landscape of STEM
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) played an instrumental role in the recent For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) provincial robotics competition held in Carnarvon. The competition saw 23 teams from the Northern Cape showcase their skills in a
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) will be hosting the 2023 Astrolab Training Workshop, which will take place from 4 – 8 December 2023 at SPU’s Central Campus. The workshop will be attended by experts, specialists, researchers, academics, and students who will
The NAS Research Committee invites you to the Fourth Talk in the NAS Seminar Series 2023 that will take place on Thursday, 31 August 2023. Event Details: Title: Investigating the Effect of Activation Functions and Sample Sizes on the Performance of Artificial Neural Network Models Through Simulation Speaker: Dr Alexander
The School of Natural and Applied Sciences (NAS) Research Committee at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) hosted their Third Talk in the NAS Seminar Series 2023 titled “Advanced Materials – Development, Synthesis, Characterization, and Application”, on 3 August 2023 at Auditorium
SPU’s NAS Research Committee invites you to the Third Talk in the NAS Seminar Series 2023 that will take place on 3 August 2023. The event details are as follows: Title: Advanced Materials – Development, Synthesis, Characterization, and Application Speakers: Prof.
Sol Plaatje University (SPU) has the privilege of hosting Prof Sarah Wolff, a distinguished Fulbright Scholar and Associate Professor of Mathematics at Denison University, Ohio, USA. The fruitful partnership marks a pivotal step in fulfilling SPU’s strategic goal of deepening
In line with its commitment to contributing and improving the Northern Cape community, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) recently conducted ground-breaking research led by SPU Professor Nhamo Chaukura on emerging contaminants in wastewater in the Sol Plaatje Municipality. The occurrence of
Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) Data Science and Information Computer Technology (ICT) students proudly represented the university at the 16th National Centre for High-Performance Computing (CHPC) conference in Gauteng from 30 November to 2 December 2022. The conference was co-organised by the Data Intensive Research Initiative
The School of Natural and Applied Science (NAS) at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) has launched its Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) at the SPU South Campus. The launch took place on Tuesday 1 November 2022. The CADS seeks to
The Sol Plaatje University (SPU) School of Natural and Applied Science (NAS) will on 1 November 2022 launch the Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS). The establishment of the CADS seeks to contribute to the growth of data science and
An important milestone was reached on 9 September 2022 when Sol Plaatje University’s Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) celebrated its first year of existence, having been founded on 1 September 2021. The centre is the first research centre to
A team of Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Data Science students has placed among the top 14% of data scientists taking part in a global competition to use historical product and customer meta data to develop a personalised customer recommendation system
A team of students from the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Department of Computer Science and Information Technology has won first prize in the 2022 ITWeb Security Summit Hackathon, taking home a cash prize of R20 000. Two teams from SPU
The Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) has three exciting and dynamic post-doctoral positions available. The RVSC is a newly established research entity at SPU which focuses on climate and global change risks and vulnerabilities
Seven months after its launch, the Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) has appointed its first post-doctoral fellow. Dr Abimbola Oluwalana will conduct research which seeks to respond to the growing climate change challenges faced
Machine Learning For Air Pollution Prediction (Reference No. PD/02-2022) A dynamic and innovative post-doctoral position is available at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) in the fields of computer, data and environmental sciences. Bringing together
Novel and innovative technologies integrated with conventional methods for removing of emerging pollutants from wastewater in the Northern Cape (Reference No. PD/01-2022) A dynamic and innovative post-doctoral position is available at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) Risk and Vulnerability Science
Melvin Kisten was selected by a panel of judges from the chapter of the Geekulcha Student Society at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) and voted by the public as one of the Top 15 Young Geeks in South Africa for 2021.
The School of Natural and Applied Sciences is excited to announce the establishment of a Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC) at Sol Plaatje University (SPU) – the first research centre to be established at SPU. The Department of Science and
Sol Plaatje University in collaboration with Data Science Africa (DSA) will hold a virtual Summer School and Workshop from 4 to 8 October 2021. The theme for this year’s events is “Women and Data in Africa”. DSA is aiming to
Sol Plaatje University in collaboration with The Carpentries and SADiLaR (The South African Centre for Digital Language Resources) is organising and hosting an ONLINE Data Carpentry Training Workshop from 2nd – 6th August 2021. This workshop is aimed at equipping
SPU’s School of Natural and Applied Sciences will host the 2020 2nd IMITEC conference from 25 to 27 November 2020. The conference will be held in conjunction with the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Computer Society, IEEE South
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Dr Kamela Sekonya, a Lecturer in Physics within the Department of Physical and Earth Sciences in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, passed away on Friday, 15 August 2020.
The School of Natural and Applied Sciences welcomed Dr Zingfa Wala, who is the University’s first post-doctoral fellow, on 1 July 2020. “The School of Natural and Applied Sciences is excited on this momentous occasion in welcoming the very
With a strong mathematics, statistics and computer science core, the BSc degree in Data Science is one of the most challenging programmes offered at SPU. As the only University on the African continent that offers an undergraduate Data Science degree,
Sol Plaatje University hosted the Ilifu Big Data Hackathon from 12 – 13 March 2020. The Ilifu Human Capital Development and Outreach Committee in partnership with SPU’s School of Natural and Applied Sciences aims to promote active usage of ilifu
Dr Doug Harebottle, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Biological and Agricultural Sciences Department, is collaborating with John Werth from PAAZA (Pan-African Association of Zoos and Aquaria) in monitoring the movements of hand-reared Lesser Flamingos that were released back into
For the second time in a row, SPU’s Dumela team has taken second prize in a national hackathon competition with a score of 82% from the judges. Dumela was one of the three teams from Kimberley which competed against 12
The School of Natural and Applied Sciences introduced its honours in data science programme this year, successfully enrolling six students, all of whom had completed their BSc in Data Science at the University last year. The popular programme covers modules
The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) will present on human capital development in the Library Auditorium (Central Campus) from 10:00 to 15:00 on Monday, 8 April 2019. The Institute is responsible for maintaining the SI units, and for maintaining
Three academics from the School of Natural and Applied Sciences accompanied six Data Science Honours students to an intensive week-long bootcamp at the University of Pretoria. The team stayed at Future Africa, which is aiming to be a centre for
SPU’s Data Science Honours programme began on a high note this year with the University receiving a mention in Minister Ebrahim Patel’s speech at the closing of the SONA debate. In the speech, which highlighted the need for new skills
“We exhibit and are committed to professionalism, integrity and high work ethics at all times. We produce high calibre students who are innovative and independent thinkers through excellent teaching. “We provide a friendly working environment which promotes life-long learning. We
At an event held today, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) acknowledged the R4.5 million investment from Absa Bank which will support the data science development endeavours of the University and the Northern Cape Province. The Premier of the Northern Cape Province,
Under the auspices of the Northern Cape Wetland Forum, Sol Plaatje University in conjunction with South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Arid Node, based in Kimberley, hosted a successful World Wetlands Day event on Friday 1 February. Over 30 people
Sol Plaatje University continues to expand its infrastructure so that it can meet its goal to accommodate over 7,000 students in the medium term. NAS academic building on Central Campus Planned on Central Campus for occupation at the beginning of
Huawei, in partnership with Department of Telecommunication and Postal Services (DTPS), has offered the Seeds for the Future programme since 2016. Each year, the partnership invites 10 South African students to China for international training in Beijing and Shenzhen. The
SPU biological sciences graduate Tshepiso Seshuwane has been awarded a prestigious Rhodes University bursary to complete his honours.This follows a strong recommendation from SPU’s Dr Adebowale based on the student’s exemplary academic track record. The bursary was awarded as part
On completion of the first-year multimedia foundations I module for the ICT diploma at SPU, students should be able to understand the essential multimedia concepts for the Web. In addition, students should then be able to plan, design and develop
Earlier in December 2018, the National Research Foundation announced that it had awarded four grants to SPU academics. This was made up of one new grant which was was awarded to NAS’ Dr Kamila Sekonya. The remaining two grants made
SPU is all set for graduation which is expected to take place on Saturday, 15 December 2018 at the examination hall at Central Campus. Over 200 students will graduate from the Schools of Humanities, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Education.
SPU and Accenture South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 10 October 2018, to launch the internship programme during a ground-breaking ceremony. Accenture is a global management consulting and professional services firm that provides strategy, consulting, digital, technology and