The North-West University (NWU) continues to build on its reputation as a globally competitive and innovative institution, maintaining its position among the world’s leading universities in the latest Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. This achievement reaffirms the standing of the NWU locally and internationally and highlights its consistent pursuit of academic and research excellence. The new strategy of the NWU, Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond, is firmly guiding the institution in its pursuit of distinction.
THE published the 2026 edition of the THE World University Rankings on 9 October. It placed the NWU in the 801 to 1 000 category out of 2 191 participating universities worldwide. The university achieved a total score in the 35,5 to 38,9 range and ranks eighth among 13 South African universities. This matches the NWU’s 2025 performance, when it was also placed in the same global category and national position, underscoring the steady progress and sustained excellence of the university. It is a great achievement for the NWU to keep its ranking in the same categories, considering that there was an increase of 99 institutions compared to the total of the previous year.
The NWU performed particularly well in the international outlook pillar, reflecting its growing profile as a globally engaged university committed to excellence and societal relevance. This pillar measures international co-authorship, international staff and student ratios, and opportunities for study abroad. Once again, international outlook was the university’s strongest area of performance, with its overall score improving from the previous year’s 34,5 to 38,1 range.
Strategic focus drives global impact
The strategy for the university for 2024 and beyond is anchored in four key priorities: results-oriented leadership, systems thinking and policy fluency, private-public value co-creation, and digital and green economy enablement. These priorities strengthen the focus of the NWU on globally relevant, sustainable solutions and its commitment to creating meaningful impact.
Examples of initiatives aligned with this strategy include the establishment and proposed establishment of three future-fit academic schools – the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, the School of Mines and Mining Engineering, and the School of Veterinary Sciences. These and other innovative cross-sectoral projects reflect the strategic framework of the university, which emphasises internationalisation, partnerships and societal impact.
Prof Linda du Plessis, senior deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, says the consistent success of the NWU in international rankings reflects the strength of its strategy and the collective efforts of its academics, researchers and professional staff.
For more information about the continued strong performance of the NWU in global rankings this year, visit www.nwu.ac.za/rankings.
