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. 

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Symposia

Workshop: The Holistic Life Crafting Model: A Practitioner’s Guide to Meaning-making in Every Domain - 13 to 14 November 2024

Have you ever wondered how you can empower your clients or employees to take control of their lives and help them align their daily experiences with what truly matters to them? Have you felt the need for a comprehensive, research-backed approach to fostering personal growth and well-being but didn’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’re eager to deepen your expertise in positive psychology and are on the lookout for practical strategies or tools that you can use to help others create more meaningful life experiences. If so, don’t miss the chan
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17th International Federation on Ageing Conference - 09 to 12 September 2025

Join us for an insightful and impactful event dedicated to exploring the diverse dimensions of ageing and its implications on society. As the world’s population continues to age, it’s imperative that we come together to address the challenges and opportunities associated with this demographic shift. Our conference features thought-provoking keynote addresses, inspiring symposiums, skill-building workshops, interactive oral and poster sessions and most importantly the voices of older people from around the globe. Go to the following link for mor
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Recent news

Celebrating 10 years of excellence in applied risk management

The Centre for Applied Risk Management (UARM) at the North-West University (NWU) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its master’s-degree programme in behavioural risk work.
The theme, "Celebrating 10 year...Read article

Coming Soon: New Book on Job Insecurity in Higher Education Institutions

Coming soon from Springer: Precarity in the Ivory Tower: Global Perspectives on Job Insecurity in Higher Education, a groundbreaking peer-reviewed volume edited by Prof. Hans De Witte, Prof. Lara Roll, and Prof. Ian Rothmann. This...Read article

Cross-cultural Psychology Expert Visited Optentia

On 21 October 2024, Prof Ype Poortinga present a lecture with the following title: “Exploring the History of Cross-Cultural Psychology: The Primacy of Method over Theory.”. He delved into the fascinating history of cro...Read article

First Participants Successfully Complete Short Courses in Academic Mentorship

Academic mentorship has reached a significant milestone. The Optentia Research Unit – one for academic mentors and one for academic mentees – have been successfully presented for the first time. Click on the following ...Read article

Newsletter, July 2024