Nontsikelelo Kote-Nkomo, executive director for strategy and strategic projects in the office of the NWU vice-chancellor.
International relevance remains the North-West University’s (NWU’s) goal.
To this end, Nontsikelelo Kote-Nkomo, executive director for strategy and strategic projects in the office of the vice-chancellor, will be leading a delegation to Australia and New Zealand from 15 to 30 November 2025.
This forms part of the university’s strategic drive to expand its international footprint and to strengthen academic collaboration with leading international institutions.
Earlier this year, representatives from Lincoln University in New Zealand visited the NWU as part of the partnership and collaboration that commenced in 2024.
The NWU delegation includes representatives from the faculties of Health Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Engineering. They will engage with the University of Western Australia and the University of Melbourne, as well as Lincoln University and the University of Otago in New Zealand. These universities are ranked among the world’s top 500 universities according to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings.
The visit will explore partnerships in areas such as engineering, mining, agriculture, astronomy, space science, sustainability, and high-performance sport. These fields reflect the NWU’s academic and research priorities and provide avenues for staff and student exchanges, collaborative projects, and shared research initiatives.
Knowledge knows no boundaries
Nontsikelelo emphasises that the mission is a key component of the NWU’s commitment to international engagement.
“Internationalisation is central to the NWU’s strategy. We believe that through global partnerships, we can best serve our province, our country and our continent. Knowledge knows no boundaries, and our growth depends on the exchange of expertise on a global scale,” she says.
The NWU’s internationalisation strategy seeks to harness global expertise, foster collaboration, and enhance research capacity across disciplines. This exchange of knowledge empowers the university to be part of addressing pressing socio-economic challenges while ensuring that its staff and students engage with international thought leaders.
The visit aims to deepen the NWU’s participation in international academic networks, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and promote innovation across teaching and research. By engaging with leading universities, the NWU will gain insights into best practices that can inform institutional development and enrich the university’s academic culture.
This will enable the NWU to reach new audiences, unearth opportunities, and position itself as an internationally competitive, research-driven African institution.
