Music in Provence: musicians shine in second house concert in memory of Elmain Smit

Soft notes floated through the afternoon air like a gentle breeze across lavender fields. The scent of sunflowers and the glow of golden light transformed Prof Paul Smit’s home into a small corner of Provence, carrying guests on a journey of music, memory and quiet celebration.

On Saturday, 13 September, Prof…

Professor calls for actionable science that can save lives

What happens in the lab should not stay there. That was the central message from Prof Anja Franken of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, who used her inaugural lecture to argue that occupational health research must move beyond academic journals and into workplaces where it can save lives.

“Research must not…

International conference drives progress in school social work

The School of Psychosocial Health at the North-West University (NWU) hosted the second Social Workers in Schools (SWIS) International Conference from 10 to 12 September on the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the NWU. The first international conference was held in the United Kingdom during 2024, and the conference in South Africa was the very first of…

Strengthening patient safety and healthcare in Africa

Dr Sabelilie Tenza, a patient safety expert at North-West University (NWU), led a powerful conversation about strengthening patient safety and healthcare in Africa at the recent Quality Management and Patient Safety – Reimagined Forum, which was held at the WHX Labs in Cape Town.

Hosted in partnership with the Council for Health Service…

Professor honoured as International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

North-West University (NWU) extraordinary professor Linda Godfrey has been elected as an International Fellow of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) in the United Kingdom.

This is the second key role she has had within the ambit of the RAEng. For the past four years, Prof Godfrey has served on the Board of the Academy’s…

NWU launches Centre for Digital Humanities with inspiring Spring School Programme

By Jalize Fourie

The Faculty of Humanities at North-West University (NWU) took a bold step into the future of research and innovation with the official launch of its Centre for Digital Humanities (CDH) on Friday, 19 September, at the Riverside Sun Hotel in Vanderbijlpark.

The launch was the highlight of…

Dr Lucé Pretorius honoured with national early-career academic award

The North-West University (NWU) is celebrating a remarkable achievement, with Dr Lucé Pretorius, senior lecturer in Social Work at the Vanderbijlpark Campus, having received the prestigious Early Career Academic Award for 2025.

The accolade was presented at the annual Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (…

Images and drawings reveal family experiences that words cannot

In a world where numbers and words often dominate research, a North-West University (NWU) scholar is urging academics to “picture it”. During her inaugural lecture Prof Vicki Koen from the Faculty of Health Sciences argued that images, drawings and photographs can unlock new ways of understanding family well-being that traditional methods…

Symposium explores how South Africa navigates global agreements

By Gofaone Motsamai

Law students have a role to play in critically evaluating international institutions, including the United Nations and its Security Council.

This is according to diplomats and legal experts who spoke at a seminar on the development and conclusion of international agreements, hosted by…

External expertise helps to steer the future of sustainable farming at the NWU

An independent advisory panel of agricultural experts is at the helm of one of South Africa’s most ambitious experiments in sustainable farming. This panel plays a decisive role in shaping the vision, trials, and daily operations of the North-West University’s (NWU) new Centre for Sustainable Agriculture—a bold initiative designed to meet the…