NWU launches Centre for Digital Humanities with inspiring Spring School Programme

By Jalize Fourie

The Faculty of Humanities at North-West University (NWU) took a bold step into the future of research and innovation with the official launch of its Centre for Digital Humanities (CDH) on Friday, 19 September, at the Riverside Sun Hotel in Vanderbijlpark.

The launch was the highlight of…

Dr Lucé Pretorius honoured with national early-career academic award

The North-West University (NWU) is celebrating a remarkable achievement, with Dr Lucé Pretorius, senior lecturer in Social Work at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, having received the prestigious Early Career Academic Award for 2025.

The accolade was presented at the annual Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (…

Images and drawings reveal family experiences that words cannot

In a world where numbers and words often dominate research, a North-West University (NWU) scholar is urging academics to “picture it”. During her inaugural lecture Prof Vicki Koen from the Faculty of Health Sciences argued that images, drawings and photographs can unlock new ways of understanding family well-being that traditional methods…

Women Leading for Sustainability: Workshop empowers the next Generation

On 19 August 2025, the university hosted a transformative sustainability workshop aimed at strengthening pathways for female students into impactful careers. With support from the British Council South Africa, the event created an inspiring platform for students to engage with practitioners, explore career options, and build the skills required…

Symposium explores how South Africa navigates global agreements

By Gofaone Motsamai

Law students have a role to play in critically evaluating international institutions, including the United Nations and its Security Council.

This is according to diplomats and legal experts who spoke at a seminar on the development and conclusion of international agreements, hosted by…

External expertise helps to steer the future of sustainable farming at the NWU

An independent advisory panel of agricultural experts is at the helm of one of South Africa’s most ambitious experiments in sustainable farming. This panel plays a decisive role in shaping the vision, trials, and daily operations of the North-West University’s (NWU) new Centre for Sustainable Agriculture—a bold initiative designed to meet the…

Head Injury assessments shouldn’t leave supporters scratching their heads

South Africans are still basking in the glow of the Springboks’ emphatic 43–10 dismantling of the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship. It was a win that restored pride, silenced doubters, and reaffirmed South Africa’s place at the summit of world rugby.

Now the Springboks will host Argentina in Durban as Rassie Erasmus’ men look to…

Innovative research delivers eco-friendly, cost-effective feed solution for beef cattle

The North-West University (NWU) is proud to celebrate the recent graduation of Dr Nozipho Phila Gamedze, who received her PhD on 16 July 2025. Her research marks a significant contribution to both sustainable agriculture and nanotechnology, showcasing the power of interdisciplinary science rooted in African innovation.

Her thesis,…

Academic documents the indigenous names of frogs and reptiles

Naming 136 frog species and 407 reptile species in nine South African cultures has been the focus of Fortunate Mafeta Phaka, senior postdoctoral researcher of herptile-human interactions at the North-West University (NWU). His project has produced the first comprehensive analysis of indigenous naming and classification of these species.

NWU academic weighs in on Constitutional Court ruling on surname laws

The Constitutional Court’s recent decision in Jordaan and Others v Minister of Home Affairs has reshaped how South Africans approach surname changes after marriage. The judgment declared sections of the Births and Deaths Registration Act unconstitutional for restricting surname changes to women, finding that the provisions reinforced outdated…