The North-West University (NWU) connected thousands of students with employers during a series of career fairs across its Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses in May 2026.
Organised by the Career Services and Alumni Relations office, the fairs gave students direct access to employers, career guidance and valuable networking opportunities. Students explored internships, vacation work, graduate programmes and employment opportunities while gaining first-hand insight into workplace expectations.
The Potchefstroom Campus opened the month-long programme with three specialised career fairs. The Accounting Career Fair took place on 5 May, followed by the Law and General Career Fair on 6 May and the Engineering and Science Career Fair on 7 May. Employers from a variety of sectors engaged with students and shared opportunities tailored to their fields of study. The discipline-specific format allowed students to have focused conversations with recruiters, gain industry-specific career advice and learn more about the qualifications, skills and experience employers seek in their respective fields.
At the Vanderbijlpark Campus, more than 1 000 students attended the annual Accounting and General Career Fair at Tsebonokeng Hall. Nineteen companies participated in the event, showcasing opportunities across a range of industries and engaging directly with prospective graduates.
The companies promoted internships, vacation work, graduate development programmes and full-time positions. Students also strengthened their professional skills, learned more about recruitment processes and gained a clearer understanding of what employers expect from graduates.
Hloni Putsoane, employer engagement specialist for Career Services and Alumni Relations at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, welcomed the strong response from both students and employers.
"The career fair this year exceeded our expectations, both in terms of student turnout and employer participation. We are seeing more students taking initiative and actively seeking opportunities to prepare for their futures," he said.
Hloni said employer participation had grown significantly since the previous year.
"Last year we had 14 companies and this year we welcomed 19. This growth shows that more organisations are recognising the value of engaging with our students. However, we would like to encourage more local companies to come on board and support initiatives like this."
He said career fairs help bridge the gap between academic learning and the demands of the workplace by giving students practical exposure to industry and direct access to potential employers.
The Mahikeng Campus hosted its career fair on 13 May, bringing together students and employers from across South Africa. Representatives from organisations including Colgate-Palmolive, Cell C, PwC, Standard Bank, Auditor-General South Africa and SAB InBev engaged with students about internships, graduate programmes, seasonal work and employment opportunities.
During a feedback session, employers encouraged students to develop skills beyond technical knowledge. They identified communication, adaptability, initiative and problem-solving as qualities they increasingly seek in graduates. They also emphasised the importance of practical workplace experience, particularly in technology-related fields.
Career Services representative Thoriso Maseng thanked participating organisations for their continued support and encouraged them to maintain their partnerships with the university.
At the Vanderbijlpark Campus, more than 1 000 students attended the annual Accounting and General Career Fair at Tsebonokeng Hall.
At the Mahikeng Campus, Thoriso Maseng thanked participating organisations for their continued support and encouraged them to maintain their partnerships with the university
The Potchefstroom Campus opened the month-long programme with three specialised career fairs
