The unexpected decision by President Donald Trump to suspend the reciprocal United States (US) tariffs on non-retaliatory countries for 90 days pending further negotiations has prompted a strong rebound in financial markets and a modification of previous gloomy economic forecasts.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says this decision now creates a welcome window of opportunity for many countries, including South Africa, to negotiate with the US for lower tariffs.

In the ever-evolving landscape of academia, certain institutions stand out not only for their age or size, but also for their unyielding commitment to curiosity and innovation. North-West University (NWU) in South Africa exemplifies this spirit, particularly through its Focus Area for Pure and Applied Analytics (PAA) research entity. This group is not only pushing the boundaries of mathematical and statistical sciences, but also redefining how these disciplines intersect with real-world applications.

In a noteworthy seminar hosted by the School of Social Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) on Friday, 4 April, Dr Pedro Mzileni, a senior lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Zululand, delivered a captivating case study on the “Coloniality of academic freedom” in South Africa’s higher-education sector.

Prof Dumi Moyo, executive dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and Prof Herculene Kotzé, deputy dean, represented the North-West University (NWU) the Times Higher Education Africa Universities Summit 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, from 18 to 21 March.

Her name is called. It is Tuesday, 8 April, just past 16:00 in the afternoon. This is her moment: the culmination of three years of dedication. It is graduation day. She takes a breath and, with a radiant smile, walks across the auditorium stage on the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University (NWU). Her eyes find a familiar face seated at the centre of the stage, beaming with pride. She walks towards him and bends down as Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the NWU, officially caps his daughter.

The North-West University (NWU) has again emerged as a leader in accounting education in South Africa. Its candidates achieved an overall pass rate of 95% in the January 2025 Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) examinations of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN).  

This compares to the national average pass rate of 70%, according to the results, which were announced on Friday, 4 April 2025.

The scale of the further wide-ranging United States (US) unilateral tariff hikes announced by President Donald Trump will not only drive a huge wedge into the world’s multilateral trading system but is also bad news for the South African economy. 

The North-West University (NWU) Centre for Business Mathematics and Informatics (CBMI) welcomed industry giants ABSA, SAS and FirstRand for insightful engagement with honours- and master’s-degree students. This engagement reflects the centre’s strong industry ties and its commitment to providing students with valuable insight into the professional world.

ABSA engagement focused on two professional development themes

The North-West University (NWU) Eagles Young Guns (YGs) are looking to defend their Varsity Cup title after securing a crucial home semi-final. The Eagles will take on the University of Cape Town (UCT) YGs at the Fanie Du Toit Sportsgrounds on Monday 7 April at 16:00.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to shine in academic excellence as Prof Jacques Petzer, professor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the Faculty of Health Sciences, has been recognised as the Best Examiner in professional exams for 2024 by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC).