“Leadership is not a title, but a responsibility, and I am honoured to carry it forward.” 
These words capture the heart of the moment as the North-West University (NWU) celebrates the election of Mario Chauque as the new president-elect of the South African Association for Counselling and Development in Higher Education (SAACDHE) for the 2025 to 2027 term. 

Mario’s journey has been built on consistency, compassion and a deep commitment to student development, making this national recognition both fitting and inspiring.  

South Africa can learn a great deal from China, not by copying its politics but by understanding how it builds relationships, trust and social harmony. That is the argument made by Dr Casper Lötter, a conflict criminologist at the North West University, who believes China’s way of thinking offers practical lessons for a deeply divided South Africa.

The Centre for Space Research (CSR) at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a highly successful Radio Astronomy Advancement Programme (RAAP) workshop – an annual initiative funded by the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and the National Research Foundation (NRF).

The Faculty of Health Sciences held its annual Research and Innovation Awards on 12 November 2025, recognising outstanding academic and research excellence across various disciplines. The event acknowledged researchers and research bodies that have made exceptional contributions to innovation, impact and scholarship at the North-West University (NWU).

This annual event has become a highlight on the faculty calendar – a moment to acknowledge the dedication, collaboration and perseverance driving health sciences research that matters.

Recognising exceptional achievements

Every weekday, the airwaves across the North-West University (NWU’s) campuses tell a story. Stories of student voices rising, the laughter shared between lectures, the pride in sports, heart-to-heart conversations, and the music of campus life.

PUKfm (93.6) and NWU FM (105.5) have both been nominated in five categories of the 2025 Telkom Radio Awards, demonstrating that NWU’s talent should not be underestimated. For campus radio stations, being recognised alongside top commercial and community stations is a powerful affirmation of the growing influence of youth-led media.

North-West University (NWU) staff gathered online on 29 October 2025 to explore how multilingual practices can strengthen learning and promote inclusivity. The webinar, facilitated by Professor Rosemary Wildsmith-Cromarty from the Language Directorate, focused on practical steps educators can take to incorporate multilingual approaches in teaching and learning environments.

In an era when healthcare is increasingly shaped by technology, efficiency metrics and digital interfaces, the oldest element of care remains the most radical: the act of being fully present. At North-West University (NWU), Prof Tinda Rabie from the Quality in Nursing and Midwifery (NuMIQ) programme, argues that the future of compassionate care depends not on machines but on the ability of healthcare professionals to “guide the carescape with light, wisdom and prudence.” Presence in caring, she insists, is not sentimental rhetoric.

A North-West University (NWU) delegation is currently attending the seventh annual European Conference for Student Affairs and Services (ECSAS), taking place in Porto, Portugal, from 12 to 14 November 2025.

The NWU delegation from Student Life includes Dr Corrie Rheeder, Potchefstroom Campus chief director, Tshediso Tom, administrative assistant, Karen van den Berg, senior counselling psychologist, and Juan-Ri Schutte, senior industrial psychologist.

• The Centre for Digital Humanities was born out of the realisation that the humanities are central to creating equitable digital futures for South Africans. 
• “As digital humanists, we understand that technology exists within a network of human and more-than-human relationships,” says Prof.

While cities in Africa expand rapidly and the pressure for economic growth is increasing, the protected areas on the continent face a complex challenge: how to conserve nature and empower people.

At the North-West University (NWU) the Protected Areas Research Group, led by Prof. Reece Alberts, Prof. François Retief, Prof. Claudine Roos and Prof. Dirk Cilliers, is working to find exactly that balance.