An annual Geographic Information Systems (GIS) outreach programme is transforming how Grade 12 learners understand geography, shifting it from a textbook subject to a hands-on, technology-driven discipline with real-world relevance.

Led by senior lecturer Dr Nisa Ayob, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between theory taught in high school geography and the practical application of spatial technologies. At its core is a focus on developing spatial thinking, the ability to understand where and when events occur, and how patterns and relationships unfold across space.

From dropping out of university twice to graduating cum laude, visually impaired student Raphael Sambo has turned a once-fractured academic journey into a story of distinction.

Raphael earned his postgraduate diploma in management from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the North-West University (NWU), achieving a milestone he describes as the result of persistence, resilience and critical support from the university’s disability services.

The moment he graduated carried deep personal significance for Raphael after years of uncertainty and rebuilding.

A new book co-edited by Prof. Gilbert Motsaathebe, deputy dean for teaching and learning in the Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU), explores how African indigenous languages are used and represented in political communication on digital platforms.

Pastor Sandiso Likhuleni, an alumnus of the North-West University (NWU), has launched a new book that draws on his experiences as a student leader, social worker and pastor to guide young people searching for purpose and direction.

Sandiso, who studied towards a Bachelor of Social Work degree at the university from 2013 to 2016 and graduated in 2017, says the book was inspired by his personal journey, spirituality and the belief that people should use their God-given abilities to shape their lives.

Twenty-nine medals from two karate tournaments are impressive by anybody’s standards. This is the medal haul that the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus Karate Eagles brought home from tournaments in Mamelodi and Rustenburg.

At the Siyakhumbula Memorial Tournament in Mamelodi on 11 April, the Karate Eagles competed in the full-contact division and had 10 podium finishes: one gold medal, three silver medals and six bronze medals.

First-year law students from the North-West University (NWU) took part in the annual Law and Diversity (LAD) Excursion from 17 to 19 April 2026 at Mocoseng Sundown Resort, where they were exposed to experiential legal learning beyond the traditional classroom environment.

The three-day programme was designed to strengthen students’ practical legal skills while building a strong ethical foundation early in their studies. It also created space for critical engagement on issues such as social justice, diversity, and the role of legal professionals in society.

Mental-health support and access to basic hygiene resources took centre stage when Khayalethu Residence at the North-West University (NWU) carried out a community outreach project at Molelwane Secondary School, combining a structured mental-health intervention with a sanitary pad-donation drive.

Returning research findings to the communities that shaped them took centre stage as two North-West University (NWU) postgraduate students led feedback sessions across North West, turning academic work into shared knowledge and practical application.

Keamogela Innocentia Nko and Tswelelopele Gobitsaone Mpolokeng, affiliated with the Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (CEIKS) and SARChI IK-Medplants4HAC at the NWU, recently participated in community feedback sessions held in Madibeng, Zeerust and Mahikeng.

Questions about the cost and impact of commissions of inquiry in South Africa are intensifying as the Madlanga Commission faces a possible six-month extension amid funding constraints, prompting renewed scrutiny over whether such processes deliver value for money.