The Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), through its Career Services and Alumni Relations Department, has taken a significant step toward enhancing student employability by hosting a lecturers’ breakfast engagement.
This was part of a series of multi-campus events held at the Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark campuses. The event brought together staff and key institutional stakeholders to explore collaborative strategies for better preparing students for the rapidly evolving job market.
Held under the theme “Future-Ready Graduates,” the Vanderbijlpark breakfast engagement served as a dynamic platform for academic staff to connect directly with Career Services, exchange ideas and strengthen the vital partnerships that drive the NWU’s employability agenda.
In his address, Thoriso Maseng, senior manager at Career Services, emphasised that the engagement forms part of a long-term strategy to align academic efforts with the university’s employability goals, in line with the NWU’s vision and national development priorities.
“This is more than just a networking event. It is a strategic move to create awareness and deepen collaboration across the university. We are committed to regular engagements and increased support for academic staff in implementing employability initiatives. Resources, toolkits and capacity-building sessions will be made available across the university to ensure that employability becomes a shared responsibility,” said Thoriso.
He added that to maintain the momentum, the NWU will host a student employability engagement later this year, focusing on direct interaction with students to help them navigate their career journeys and understand the tools and services available to them.
Thoriso also presented key elements of the NWU Employability Strategy 2028, a forward-thinking roadmap designed to boost graduate success through work-integrated learning, career development programmes, employer partnerships and faculty-driven career support. The strategy aims to position NWU as a leading institution in producing work-ready graduates. It is aligned with the National Development Plan, which prioritises youth employment and skills development as key drivers of economic growth.
A major focus of the breakfast was exploring how academic staff can play a more active role in embedding employability into the curriculum and the broader student experience. Lecturers shared innovative initiatives they have implemented within their disciplines to expose students to real-world applications of their studies.
Some faculties reported integrating career-readiness modules into academic programmes, while others highlighted the importance of mentorship, internships and industry collaborations in improving student prospects.
“It was refreshing to be part of a conversation where we as lecturers were not just encouraged but empowered to shape the employability narrative of our students,” said one participant. “This type of collaboration is key to aligning academic excellence with industry expectations.”
Tshepiso Mothupi from the Career Centre, one of the event organisers, described the initiative as a success.
“As the graduate landscape continues to evolve, we must ensure that our students leave the NWU with more than just a degree – they need skills, confidence and access to opportunities.”
