The North-West University (NWU) has secured fourth place in the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative of the Year category of the 2023 Global Triple E Awards for Africa.
These awards – made by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) – recognise universities worldwide that exhibit an exceptional commitment to entrepreneurship and community engagement in higher education.

This well-deserved recognition is thanks to the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM’s) endeavours in their Smallholder Farmer Development Initiative.

The initiative focused on the organisation of three Farmers Days in January 2023, which played a pivotal role to empower and support smallholder farmers. With this drive, the NWU has demonstrated its steady commitment to sustainable development and fostering positive change within local farming communities.

Prof Nomali Ngobese, an associate professor in agricultural sciences at the UESM, explains that these awards place a particular emphasis on the third goal of universities' community engagement, which is to transform educational institutions and highlight their impact on local communities.

Dr Janine Chantson, chief director of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support office, and Prof Ngobese accepted the prestigious award on behalf of NWU at the ceremony in Barcelona, Spain.

About The Triple E Awards
The Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities’ (ACEEU’s) Triple E Awards are a global recognition of efforts towards the quest for entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. It is the first award to focus specifically on different dimensions of the universities' third mission.

The Triple E Awards aim to foster change in universities and to emphasise their role in their communities and ecosystems.

The ACEEU is the accrediting body responsible for recognising entrepreneurial and engaged universities.

Dr Janine Chantson, chief director of the Technology Transfer and Innovation Support office, and Prof Nomali Ngobese, associate professor from the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, proudly display the Global Triple E Award the NWU received for securing fourth place in the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative of the Year category.