Welcome

The mission of the Optentia Research Unit is to develop and organise knowledge for the optimal expression of individual, social and institutional potential, with a specific interest in the African context. The research unit utilises the inputs from multiple disciplines: Economics, Educational Sciences, Employment Relations, Human Resource Management, Information Technology, Philosophy, Psychology (Work and Organisational Psychology, Educational Psychology, Counselling Psychology, and Clinical Psychology), Risk Management, Social Anthropology, Social Work, and Sociology. We study the optimisation of the potential of people and institutions by focusing on pathways from precarity to capability and optimal functioning. Optentia's research is organised into six programmes. Read more about Optentia in this information leaflet.

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Symposia

Teaching with Research - 24 to 25 November 2025

This two-day workshop explores inquiry-, problem-, and project-based learning as ways to embed research in teaching across disciplines. Sessions include practical uses of AI in research, designing inquiry-driven assignments, and assessing research through creative methods like portfolios and data visualisation. A panel addresses the challenges and opportunities of teaching research, including indigenous knowledge and access disparities.
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Recent news

Teaching with research workshop hosted by Optentia

The Optentia Research Unit, North-West University, in collaboration with the Research Support Department, North-West University, and the Norwegian Institute of Technology, invite you to a two-day workshop titled Teaching with Rese...Read article

Optentia Research Unit launches ground-breaking short courses for support staff

The Optentia Research Unit at the North-West University (NWU) has officially launched two innovative hybrid short courses designed to build mentoring capacity and strengthen professional development among university support staff....Read article

Academics champion well-being and decent jobs at international conference

Two leading scholars from the North-West University (NWU) took centre stage at the International Conference on Emerging Trends in Psychosocial Well-being (ETPW2025), hosted by the University of Namibia. Their contributions highlig...Read article

Technology-facilitated gender-based violence

Dr Vedhna Dayanand-Lalla of the NWU, Optentia, recently spoke to @SABCNews about the rise of technology-facilitated gender-based violence and femicide. She calls for urgent awareness. Watch it Read article

Newsletter, September 2025