The North-West University (NWU) and Lincoln University in New Zealand have expanded their growing academic ties after concluding a series of engagements on sport, recreation, agriculture and applied research.
The visit took place on 26 November, follows an earlier trip by Lincoln academics to the NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus, where initial exchanges were held on high-performance sport, concussion studies and postgraduate training.
Led by Ntsikie Kote-Nkomo, executive director for strategy and strategic projects, the NWU delegation held structured sessions with Lincoln University’s senior leadership, including deputy vice-chancellor Damian Lodge, faculty heads and researchers across sport and agricultural sciences. The meetings centred on programme structures, staff mobility, research linkages and long-term institutional engagement.
Exploring student-athlete support
Sport and recreation formed a key part of the discussions. Lincoln University outlined its pathways in sport and recreation management and the operations of its sport scholarship programme, which processes about 250 applications each year and maintains more than 100 scholarship athletes. Systems used to track athlete stress, academic load and competitive schedules were presented as part of broader exchanges on strengthening student-athlete support.
Philip Malan, manager in the office of the NWU vice-chancellor, who also serves as the current head of NWU Sport, said the engagement opened clear lines for future joint activity. “The discussions helped us understand how athlete pathways can align across institutions. We focused on practical areas such as programme structure, mobility, supervision and how both universities can open space for long-term academic and sporting ties,” he said.
Digging deeper into land use and farming systems
Agriculture also featured prominently during the visit. Sessions included engagements with specialists in grazing ecology, soil sciences, land systems and environmental management. The NWU delegation visited the Lincoln University Dairy Farm, where farming systems, land-use research and sustainability models were presented.
During this part of the visit, Prof. Thebe Medupe deputy dean for teaching and learning in NWU’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, delivered a presentation on strategic projects of the NWU’s School of Agriculture, highlighting areas where the university is building capacity and seeking stronger academic links.
Prof. Medupe said the visit provided a basis for sustained academic activity across departments. “We explored areas where agriculture, environmental management and land-use research can link across institutions. This creates room for staff exchanges, postgraduate work and structured engagement between researchers,” he said.
The visit forms part of a broader institutional effort to strengthen the NWU’s international footprint and deepen ties with universities whose research and teaching priorities align with its long-term strategy. A formal agreement between the institutions is currently being finalised, and the NWU vice-chancellor is expected to advance the next phase of the partnership.
Ntsikie Kote-Nkomo met with Lincoln University deputy vice-chancellor Damian Lodge.
The NWU delegation were taken on a tour of Lincoln University’s agricultural projects.
Philip Malan and Dr Cobus Oosthuizen took a tour of the facilities of the Crusaders rugby team. With them are Crusaders coaching staff.
