The North-West University (NWU) continues to affirm its leadership in student success, and has been nominated as one of the top three universities in South Africa in the Best Career Service category at the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) Awards 2025.

The nomination places the NWU in the same league as long-established institutions such as the University of Cape Town and the University of Pretoria – a significant milestone for the university’s career development efforts.

The SAGEA Awards, hosted every two years, celebrate excellence and innovation in the graduate employment and development space. The Best Career Service category is determined through employer and graduate feedback and recognises institutions that provide outstanding support in preparing students for the workforce.

At the NWU, the Career Services Centre has become a vital bridge between academia and employment – offering students practical tools, personalised guidance, employer connections and work-readiness programmes that speak to the realities of the modern job market.

“This nomination is a reflection of the NWU’s heart for its students,” says Thoriso Maseng, senior manager for Career Services.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure our students graduate not just with degrees, but with a sense of purpose, direction and readiness for the real world. To be recognised by SAGEA in this way means everything to us,” he adds.

From one-on-one career coaching, CV writing and interview prep to internship programmes and graduate fairs, the NWU has set the benchmark for meaningful, student-centred support.

The winners will be announced during the organisation’s annual year-end conference at the SAGEA Gala Awards Evening on Thursday, 13 November 2025 at the Riverside Sun in Vanderbijlpark.

As the university community looks ahead to the awards night, this recognition alone speaks volumes about the commitment of the NWU to graduate empowerment.

“This is not just a celebration of our Career Services team,” Thoriso adds. “It is a celebration of every NWU student who dares to dream big – and of a university that dares to back them all the way.”