Academic News

Student runs minicab business while studying

By Gofaone Motsamai

A social sciences and economics student at North-West University’s Mahikeng Campus is balancing the demands of academic life with running a minicab business.

Maano Rambwa, now in his final year, ventured into entrepreneurship in 2023 when he launched Candy Corner, a small business…

Ch@s peer helpers shine at 2025 NWU graduation

In a heartwarming and triumphant celebration of perseverance, passion, and purpose, the Ch@s peer helpers from the North-West University’s Vanderbijlpark Campus made an unforgettable mark during the May 2025 graduation ceremonies. But this was not just any graduation story — this was a victory parade for a group of student leaders whose impact…

NWU and Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman formalise transformative partnership

In a landmark step toward deepening legal education, community engagement, and access to justice, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman (CGSO). The signing ceremony took place on 11 June 2025, marking the formalisation of a collaboration…

Inaugural Global People Practices Conference champions innovation and collaboration in HR

The School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) successfully hosted the first ever Global People Practices Conference (GPPC).

This marked a significant step towards fostering critical discourse, academic collaboration and innovation in human resource…

How to unlock the job market for IKS graduates

In the corridors of higher learning, indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) has emerged as a growing academic discipline. But in the job market, its graduates often meet closed doors and puzzled employers. A new study by a recent NWU PhD graduate, Dr Mamello Anna Hlabe uncovers the disconnect between the classroom and the labour market and the…

Study finds crop rotation boosts soil health

Farmers looking to improve soil health and crop yields may find a solution in crop rotation, according to a study by North-West University (NWU) researchers. The study, published in the International Microbiology Journal, reveals that the rotation of crops leads to a more diverse and beneficial microbial community in soil.

Researchers…

Experts debate the fiscal future of South Africa

A lively panel of experts provided a critical analysis of Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget address during the Pitso 2025.4 discussion of the North-West University (NWU) Business School. These experts advocated for significant changes to the way South Africa creates and oversees its national budget, calling for transparency and accountability…

Animal nutritionist explores the effects of marula seed cake on chicken production and meat quality

Zibukile Gcinile Mchunu, a North-West University (NWU) master’s graduate from Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, conducted a study examining the effects of dietary inclusion of marula seed (kernel) cake on productive performance, health, gut metagenomes, and meat quality of indigenous Boschveld chickens.

She was supervised by Dr Doc Mthiyane from…

Hybrid workers need to rekindle the human connection

The academic workplace is no longer defined by shared offices and hallway conversations. As hybrid work becomes the norm, one researcher argues that the shift may be eroding the very ties that keep academic communities functioning.

“Academics are often isolated in their work, and hybrid work has amplified that,” said Dr Rudo Rachel…

Breaking the HIV bottleneck: Why sub-Saharan Africa must lead the way

· African nations must build their own research capacity, rather than relying solely on Western institutions and donors.

· Africa remains largely overlooked in HIV sequencing research, despite bearing the greatest burden.

· It is time for Africa to reclaim agency over its health future.

· Global HIV research is biased…