As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to play an increasingly important and prominent role in our lives, the North-West University (NWU) has established the NWU AI Hub to serve as a coordinator and facilitator for all things AI at the NWU. No sphere of the university environment has been left unaffected by the AI revolution, and with the creation of the NWU AI Hub, the university is implementing the necessary structures and guidelines to navigate the pitfalls and opportunities that this groundbreaking technology holds.
Professor Anné Verhoef has been appointed as the director of the NWU AI Hub, and as chairperson of the AI Steering Committee (AISC) of the NWU, which comprises members from across the university. They are dedicated and united in their goal to make the NWU transition as seamlessly as possible into this new AI age.
Here is Prof Verhoef to tell us more:
Can you explain the mission and vision of the NWU AI Hub to us?
The establishment of the NWU AI Hub in the portfolio of the deputy vice-chancellor for Operations and Digital Futures was proposed at the NWU’s University Management Council Bosberaad in 2024 and came into effect on 1 January 2025. The AI Hub fulfils a crucial role in the vision of Information Technology (IT) “to be a leading partner in positioning the NWU as a unitary institution of superior academic excellence through digital transformation”. Regarding the NWU’s strategic plan, the AI Hub concretely realises the vision to “discover new frontiers and opportunities that benefit society, advancing our relevance and impact” and our mission: “To benefit society through the provision of knowledge, excelling in innovative teaching, cutting edge research and focused engagement with the community.”
What are the primary responsibilities of the AI steering committee (AISC) in the AI Hub, and how does the committee contribute to shaping and guiding AI initiatives at the university?
The purpose of this multifunctional committee is to develop an NWU AI policy, guidelines and rules, based on the NWU-AI framework policy and NWU-AI statement of intent, and to guide and consult on matters relevant to AI at the NWU. Although the committee’s focus is primarily on AI, it will also take note of other AI-associated technologies in future that may be disruptive in the higher-education context.
The main responsibilities and tasks of the AISC are:
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To develop an NWU AI policy, guidelines and rules, based on the NWU-AI framework policy and NWU-AI statement of intent as developed by the interim AI steering committee.
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To coordinate artificial intelligence (AI) matters across various functions and involving different stakeholders of the NWU, for example, TL, SJS, Research, CoPAI, Writing Centres, AIWG.
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To ensure that AI development and AI applications are guided in an ethical manner, aligned with the NWU’s core institutional and regulatory requirements.
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To act in an advisory capacity to the chair of the NWU’s IT committee regarding the specialised skills AI requires and about the specific education and training needs that should be addressed at the NWU.
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To empower NWU employees to excel in an AI-driven future and to foster a culture of learning and innovation, and contribute towards addressing the digital divide.
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To strengthen the commitment of the NWU to embrace AI technologies that are responsible, beneficial and aligned with our vision to bring positive change, and to continue to identify AI opportunities that are inclusive, ethical and sustainable.
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To scan the environment and to investigate (for instance, regarding proposals and requests for demonstrations, proofs of concept, etc.) available AI software, programs and IT tools and to recommend on their use and implementation (for example, training needs) at the NWU.
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To regulate, standardise and enhance the effective use of generic and specific AI tools, and ensure the quality of these tools. This should be aligned with accepted international standards and best practices like ISO/IEC42001:2023.
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To serve the NWU academic community in developing advice on general matters relating to the implementation and management of AI.
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To develop a consistent AI agenda that helps the NWU to regulate its approach on AI and to reflect on the institutional position on AI and its implementation.
What key AI research projects, collaborations or community outreach initiatives is the AI Hub currently engaged in?
The AI Hub is doing research about AI use and the needs of academic and support staff, and of students at the NWU. The research unit TELIT-SA (Technology Enhanced Learning and Innovative Education and Training in South Africa) is taking the lead with this research under the guidance of Prof Liandi van den Berg. We are also collaborating with research being done by the Faculty of Engineering on the Mindjoy AI tool. The AI Hub is furthermore exploring and evaluating the use of different AI tools with IT, to ensure the
NWU will be able to make the right – that is to say, safe, efficient and affordable – AI tools available to all staff and students to help bridge the digital divide. The community involvement plan is to adjust the AI literacy course for students, which was just developed in collaboration with CTL (Centre for Teaching and Learning), to make it suitable for school children to use. This would be our first community outreach initiative.
How does the AI Hub facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among different departments in the university?
The AI steering committee has representatives from all faculties, the Business School, the library (LIS), IT, CTL, the research office, and various support departments like Strategic Intelligence. We are working across all entities and functions of the NWU to ensure AI can benefit the NWU as much as possible. We are also working with the AI Circle of South Africa in Higher Education (AICSA), which has representatives from most higher-education institutions in SA, and we share expertise with them.
In what ways can students, faculty members and researchers get involved with the AI Hub, and what kind of support or resources does the AI Hub provide to encourage innovation in AI?
The AI Hub provides a centralised office at the NWU to support AI initiatives and to give guidance about our AI policy, rules, implementation, ethical and responsible use. The relevant AI resources and documents are available on the AI@NWU website and training opportunities will also be listed here. We would love to hear from staff who experiment with AI so that we can learn from each other.
What is the best way for interested parties to contact the AI Hub or the AI steering committee for further information, potential collaborations or inquiries about upcoming events?
Please visit the AI@NWU website or contact me at anne.verhoef@nwu.ac.za. The NWU AI Hub would love to hear what the needs of staff and students are regarding AI at the NWU. For example, we plan to explore how AI can be used by support staff in particular for productivity reasons. AI is developing so fast that it is difficult – or nearly impossible – to keep up, but with the establishment of the AI Hub, we have a centralised place from where we can think strategically about all the opportunities and challenges AI brings to us as university.
