The School for Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a highly successful International Week Symposium, spearheaded by Prof Bouwer Jonker.
This two-day hybrid event underscored the university’s commitment to internationalisation, academic excellence, and the development of globally competent human resources and industrial psychology professionals.
The symposium welcomed both in-person and online attendees and created a platform for robust intercultural exchange and scholarly dialogue. It brought together leading voices in the field, fostering conversations on emerging global trends and pressing local challenges.
Opening the event, Prof Marissa Brouwers, deputy director of the school, highlighted the significance of the symposium in advancing the mission of the school. “This symposium reflects our commitment to building an internationally connected academic environment that equips our students and staff with the insight and agility needed for a changing world of work,” she said. “It was an overwhelming success – both in the quality of conversations and the meaningful connections it fostered.”
Throughout the two days, participants engaged with presentations by distinguished speakers. Prof Charissa Freese from the Avans University of Applied Sciences and extraordinary professor at the NWU, delivered insights on financial dimensions of HR in her talk, “Understanding where the money comes from”.
Prof Ajay Jivan, from the South African Board of People Practices, addressed critical national issues in “Pressing human resource management issues in South Africa”. Prof Elaine Farndale, from Penn State University, contributed with a forward-looking presentation on “Human resource management strategy in a changing work environment”.
Their contributions were followed by dynamic panel discussions, also featuring Prof Rene Schalk of Tilburg University. The symposium was facilitated and concluded each day by Prof Bouwer Jonker, who ensured smooth engagement and reflection.
Key topics included the strategic positioning of human resources within organisations, the importance of financial understanding for human resource professionals, and the growing need for academic programmes that integrate finance and human resources. The role of hybrid work in shaping organisational culture and morale was debated, alongside future workforce capabilities and the expanding influence of automation, agentive AI and generative AI (GenAI) on human resource functions. Thought-provoking discussions emerged around how to define “good work” in increasingly digital environments, and how HR can bridge the gap between academia and industry.
A notable outcome of the symposium was the announcement of a research collaboration between Prof Jonker, Prof Irmgard Borghouts of Tilburg University and Prof Charissa Freese. Together, they will develop a transitional inclusive human resource management labour market model aimed at addressing labour market challenges through inclusive human resource strategies.
Prof Brouwers said that feedback from delegates described the symposium as relevant, timely and highly impactful. “Many delegates expressed that the themes discussed would influence curriculum development, policy decisions and organisational practices across the higher-education and professional sectors.”
