Staff from the North-West University's (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently gathered at the Big Lapa for a mid-year event to celebrate their hard work and dedication.

The mad hatter-themed event was a playful and whimsical affair, with colleagues donning colourful and creative hats, props and decorations to mark the occasion. Anna Jantjie and Corlia Gouws each won a R300 voucher for best-dressed female.

Prof Babs Surujlal, executive dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, delivered the keynote address on behalf of Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations.

Reflecting on the past few months, Prof Surujlal said seeing the ongoing building projects on campus was inspiring.

"The university has invested in new facilities for Psycho-Social health, Geo-and Spatial Sciences, and carports with solar panels, which signify growth and progress. It's also encouraging to see the university taking steps to ensure equity of provision on all campuses, despite the challenges of managing such a large institution," he said.

He added that the campus has experienced a growth in student numbers, with more than 8 000 registered students, and 1 686 students who have recently received degrees and/or diplomas.

Thanking staff members for their hard work, Prof Surujlal said they are the driving force behind the university's success, and that the management is grateful for all their effort and dedication.

He said, despite challenges such as a difficult registration period due to NSFAS issues and loadshedding, they are proud of staff’s efforts to maintain a conducive environment for quality education.

"We recognise that our staff members are our most valuable assets, and we are grateful for your contributions to the growth and success of the university," he said.

Mad hatters show off their creations.