While Europe is in the icy grip of winter, athletes are sharpening their form in Potchefstroom, drawn by the altitude, climate and a high-performance sport hub that has quietly become a base for Olympic gold medallists.

Members of the Netherlands’ Olympic gold-winning 4x400 m mixed relay team, including Femke Bol, Lieke Klaver and Isaya Klein Ikkink, are among the international athletes currently training at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) High-Performance Institute (HPI).

Shouts of encouragement, playful competition and the clatter of spoons against eggs filled the air as the NWU Staff Sports Club Potchefstroom wrapped up its year with a high-energy closing celebration on 5 December.

Thabo Rakuba, a 27-year-old Master’s student at the North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus, recently represented South Africa as a delegate at the BRICS Research Institute Debate, hosted by the Durban University of Technology.

From the outset, Prof. Julialet Rens, a professor in the Faculty of Education at the North-West University (NWU), grounded her narrative in gratitude, drawing on Psalm 16:6 and acknowledging the “beautiful inheritance” she believes she has received – an inheritance of opportunity, guidance and the ability to contribute meaningfully to others. This reflection set the tone for a heartfelt and inspiring inaugural lecture delivered on 18 November 2025. 

“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.