Efforts to strengthen mental health awareness and policy in South Africa were in focus as Prof Leepile Sehularo from the North-West University (NWU) received the “Special Impact Mental Health Award” during the first Keturah Mental Health Awards in South Africa.

“I am honoured to receive this award,” said Prof Sehularo. “It reflects the collective effort of professionals, students and partners who are committed to building stronger mental health systems. Our work must continue to centre on inclusion, access and collaboration.”

After long days of teaching English in South Korea, Marcel van der Westhuizen would often find himself pondering the biggest questions imaginable: How will the universe ultimately end? His persistence and curiosity have now paid off.

By Gosego Phutieagae

Visiting some of the world’s most famous justice system landmarks is high on the itinerary of Thabang Mnculwane, a North-West University (NWU) Faculty of Law student, who is spending five months in Amsterdam on an academic exchange programme.

Mnculwane, a final-year LLB student, started his exchange programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) in August 2025 and will return to South Africa in January 2026.

When farmers face pests that damage their crops, many turn to chemical sprays. They often do not realise that indigenous plant-based practices can protect crops naturally, and that pest-control solutions already exist within traditional farming knowledge.

The use of chemicals is one of the common ways of managing pests. However, these chemicals have negative effects on the environment, are expensive, and often unaffordable for small-scale farmers.

By Prof Linda du Plessis

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 highlighted the critical link between decent jobs, mental health and human flourishing – issues at the heart of national productivity and sustainable development.

South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development remains uneven, with economic growth often taking precedence over environmental and social considerations, and while laws and policies highlight sustainability, practice tells a different story.

“Economic growth dominates the discourse,” said Dr Fredua Agyemang, a postdoctoral research fellow under the SARChI Chair: Cities, Law and Environmental Sustainability at the North-West University (NWU).

“Social sustainability is often reduced to consultation exercises, and environmental concerns are treated as secondary.”

In a joint effort to strengthen digital capability, the office of the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, AI Hub, Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and the People and Culture division launched an innovative incentive programme to encourage North-West University (NWU) academic staff to complete an AI and Assessment course.

A recent visit by North-West University (NWU) Professors Ephrem Redda and Prof Marko van Deventer to the Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU) in Toruń, Poland represented a significant step in strengthening international academic collaboration.

Hosted by the NCU’s Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, the visit underlined the importance of cross-institutional partnerships in higher education and demonstrated the potential for meaningful scholarly exchange and cooperation.

Book launches represent important academic milestones. On 23 September 2025, the Faculty of Theology at the North-West University (NWU) hosted a book launch and celebration that highlighted the value of international research and academic exchange.