News

Researcher warns of courts prioritising process over planet

South Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development remains uneven, with economic growth often taking precedence over environmental and social considerations, and while laws and policies highlight sustainability, practice tells a different story.

“Economic growth dominates the discourse,” said Dr Fredua Agyemang, a postdoctoral research…

African games in an academic environment as NWU hosts first tournament of its kind

By Gofaone Motsamai and Mzwandile Ndlovu

Once played in dusty village yards and open fields where laughter echoed and children learned teamwork through play, indigenous games used to be at the heart of African childhood. Today, many of those games - from morabaraba and diketo to mmela and ntimo - are fading from…

AI and Assessment training initiative empowers lecturers

In a joint effort to strengthen digital capability, the office of the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, AI Hub, Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and the People and Culture division launched an innovative incentive programme to encourage North-West University (NWU) academic staff to complete an AI and Assessment course…

NWU Potchefstroom Staff Sports Club makes a vibrant debut at national staff sports tournament

Laughter, song, and the sound of cheering carried through the breeze as the 2025 University Staff Sport and Wellness of South Africa (USSWSA) national tournament kicked off in Gqeberha this past weekend. The weather kept everyone guessing, cloudy one moment and sunny the next, but the energy on the fields was bright and full of excitement from…

Exploring the power of community engagement in teaching and research

“Community engagement connects learning with life,” said Vincent Russell, Assistant Professor and Liberal Studies Program Coordinator in the Department of Communication at Western Carolina University. He presented a talk to the North-West University (NWU) employees on the role of engagement in teaching and research and its impact on academic…

The 10-point plan and the politics of coordination

By Prof Joseph Sekhampu

When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 10-Point Economic Action Plan at the ANC’s gathering, the nation sighed – not in defiance but in weary recognition. We have become a people fluent in reform but starved of renewal. The plan promised decisive action to reset growth, fix energy…

Launch of new Community Psychology edition bridges global crises and local action

Staff members, students and stakeholders of the North-West University (NWU) gathered on the Potchefstroom Campus on 2 October to celebrate the launch of the second edition of the book Community Psychology: Global Crisis, Local Realities, and Action Global Crises.  

The event highlighted the collaborative spirit underpinning…

NWU to host HEFMA 2025 Annual Conference under the theme “Innovating Campus Spaces”

The North-West University (NWU) is proud to host the Higher Education Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) 2025 Annual Conference, a flagship event that will bring together leaders and professionals from across the higher education, training and infrastructure sectors.

Set to take place from 13 to 16 October 2025, the conference…

bhive EDC harnesses students’ entrepreneurship to tackle youth unemployment

With youth unemployment continuing to challenge South Africa’s future, the North-West University (NWU) is showing that entrepreneurship is key to turning the tide. Through its bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), the NWU hosted Student Entrepreneurship Week (SEW) 2025 from 29 September to 3 October across all three campuses.

Under…

Prof Bismark Tyobeka: South Africa must lead Africa’s nuclear future

As nations strive towards net-zero energy targets, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), has called for South Africa to take the nuclear energy lead as the continent transitions away from its fossil fuel dependency.

Speaking ahead of one of the most significant international energy…