June shines with the vibrant colours of the rainbow, symbolising the pride, resilience, and relentless quest for equality of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Kurt Naicker, senior lecturer and chartered accountant at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU), says Pride Month, which is celebrated in June, is not just festivities – it is a poignant reminder of the struggles, triumphs, and ongoing challenges facing queer individuals around the world, particularly in South Africa.

He shares his thoughts in celebration of Pride Month.

The North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with ArcelorMittal South Africa’s Women of Steel (WOS) forum recently hosted a women’s empowerment event on the Vanderbijlpark Campus. The event attracted more than 70 participants and was the second women’s event hosted at the NWU. A third event – Femmegeneering – is planned for August.

The North-West University's (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus is set to host the University Sports South Africa (USSA) games, which will include the national karate and bodybuilding competitions.

These events will take place from 28 to 30 June 2024, promising an exciting showcase of athletic prowess and dedication.

The semi-contact karate competition will be held at Faranani Hall, while the full-contact competition will take place at the Tsebonokeng Hall, where the bodybuilding competition will also take place.

The School of Social Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a delegation from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. The visit proved to be an enriching experience, with insightful presentations and meaningful discussions.

During their visit, Dr Regina Schäfer, Prof Dr Jörg Rogge and Dr Verena von Wiczlinski shared presentations on their research.

Dr Schäfer's lecture on "Doing fruntschaft between neighbours: Negotiating the conditions of living together in the late Middle Ages" provided a fascinating look into historical social dynamics.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Student Counselling and Development (SCD) division on the Vanderbijlpark Campus rallied up staff and students to support Slipper Day on 31 May.

Slipper Day is an annual fundraising event organised by Reach For A Dream that sees everyone from school children to corporate teams wear their slippers and Slipper Day stickers – all in support of seriously ill children who are in desperate need of hope and encouragement.

On 16 May Andrew Banda made history when he became the first graduate to receive a PhD in social sciences with a focus on ageing and development in Africa from the North-West University (NWU).

This research PhD is the product of the Optentia research unit and is a first in Africa. It is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of ageing within the unique context of Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this degree is to generate evidence, foster knowledge and catalyse transformative change in policies and programmes tailored to the needs of older individuals and communities.

Student Counselling and Development on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus showcased the NWU at the recent Career and Workplace Readiness Expo for people living with disabilities that took place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

The event, organised by the Disability Connect Foundation, brought together more than 1 200 high school learners, university students, graduates living with disabilities, as well as representatives from small businesses and leading South African corporates.

In a bid to foster innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, the North-West University (NWU) recently held a start-up bootcamp, titled “Be your own boss”, simultaneously across all three campuses on 11 May 2024.

Spearheaded by the bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), the initiative aimed to equip students with essential tools for success and to ignite a fire of entrepreneurship that promises to reshape the business landscape.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus boasts a new recreational area for its students staying in the Longfellow and Ebukhosini residences.

The area, previously used as a dumping site, has been transformed into a vibrant space for students to relax and socialise thanks to Buhle Houses (Pty) Ltd. from whom the NWU leases the residences.

It includes a fully paved area with a stage, toilets, a small building that can be used as a tuck shop or a bar when an event is hosted on the premises, as well as two basketball rings for the sporty students.

Two student IT teams from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus have been chosen to participate in the upcoming ITWeb Security Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre from 4 to 5 June.

This presents an incredible opportunity for the students to demonstrate their skills and connect with industry professionals. They will be taking part in the Security Summit Hackathon themed “Generation Hacker: GenZ vs GenAI”, serves as a vital catalyst for skills enhancement, empowering ICT students, techpreneurs, and cyber security enthusiasts to stay ahead of the curve.