By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

One of the world’s most-cited African scholars, Professor Toyin Falola, has received an honorary doctorate from the North-West University (NWU).

The degree was conferred on 9 May 2025 during a graduation ceremony held at the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus. This recognition marks a significant milestone in the university’s relationship with the eminent historian, who delivered a public lecture recently humanities education for African futures.

New career horizons in healthcare are opening up to Northern Cape learners thanks to an outreach visit by healthcare professionals from the School of Nursing Sciences on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus.

A team from Nursing Sciences visited Tlhwahalang Secondary School in Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape on 16 April 2025 to offer career guidance to Grade 11 and 12 learners and assist them with university applications.

One of the world’s most-cited African scholars, Prof Toyin Falola, is deepening his connection with the North-West University (NWU) and its Mahikeng Campus in particular. Two years after delivering a public lecture there on indigenous languages and global cultural shifts, he is returning to receive an honorary doctorate from the NWU.

By Gofaone Motsamai

Heat stress is among the most urgent climate-related challenges affecting beef cattle productivity, requiring South African cattle breeders to adopt climate-smart strategies to bolster food security under changing environmental conditions.

“Heat stress is becoming a major threat to livestock productivity,” said Prof Giel Scholtz of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in an online guest lecture hosted by the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on 24 April 2025.

By: Mafumane Tlhapi and Keaoleboga Motshabi

The North-West University (NWU) hosted an alumni career guidance seminar on 9 April 2024, bringing together five professionals to share their insights on career development and industry opportunities.

The event took place at the Mahikeng Campus, where alumni engaged in discussions ranging from curriculum vitae (CV) writing and career-building developments to financial planning.

Society tends to have low expectations of people with Down Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects the development of the brain. Such perceptions are unfair and uncalled for, according to the international advertising campaign titled “Assume that I can”, which challenges widely held stereotypes of Down Syndrome.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Nikelo Mehlomakulu

The evolution of South Africa’s intelligence services and the academic study of intelligence science took centre stage at a public lecture hosted by the North-West University (NWU) on 3 April 2025. Delivered by retired lecturer and intelligence expert Henning van Aswegen, the lecture explored the historical foundations, transformation and modern-day challenges of intelligence in South Africa.

Prof Amare Abebe, research director at the Centre for Space Research at the North-West University (NWU), has been elected as the new president of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS).

AfAS was established to create a globally competitive and collaborative astronomy community in Africa.

Prof Abebe’s focus will be on expanding membership, fostering research collaboration and enhancing astronomy education and outreach across Africa.

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

In a world wired for global communication, local languages are falling silent.

This was the stark message during a recent public lecture hosted at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus, where policymakers and scholars addressed the growing threat to indigenous languages.

The lecture, held on 3 April and organised by the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) research niche area, focused on how publishing, arts and media can contribute to language preservation.

Although indigenous agricultural practices play a major role in enhancing food security in local communities, they are still undervalued, overlooked and regarded as old fashioned. A master’s student at the NWU is conducting research that could help to give indigenous agricultural practices a place in the sun.

Thato Hazel Seemise, a master’s student in indigenous knowledge systems at the Mahikeng Campus, is studying the indigenous agricultural practices used to enhance food security among the Batswana of Moruleng in the North West province.