A renewed sense of focus and institutional purpose marked the official opening of the 2026 academic year at the North-West University (NWU) on Friday, 13 February.
The ceremony, broadcast live from the Potchefstroom Campus to Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark, signalled not only the start of lectures and registrations, but also served as a reaffirmation of the commitment of the university to excellence, transformation and societal impact.
Researchers and students at the North-West University (NWU) will livestream a partial solar eclipse from the NWU Solar Observatory* on the Potchefstroom Campus. This gives the public a safe way to experience the breathtaking celestial event on 17 February 2026.
Dr Ruhann Steyn, senior lecturer and researcher at the Centre for Space Research in the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, says the eclipse will be visible across most of South Africa, including all three NWU campuses.
The North-West University (NWU) is taking a big step forward! The university has been awarded Phase Two of the South African Circular Minerals and Metals Initiative, co-hosted by the CSIR through Circular Innovation South Africa, and the official launch took place on Friday, 6 February at the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence on the Potchefstroom Campus.
It was an exciting day, marking a real milestone for NWU and for South Africa’s mining sector.
In the usual wide-ranging State of the Nation Address (SONA) President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the extent to which South Africa is now at a turning point and needs to capitalise on recent positive developments to build a much bigger, stronger and better economy.
A significant global health concern is that growing numbers of children and adolescents worldwide are developing high blood pressure. Newly published research highlights childhood hypertension, once considered rare in young people, as a rapidly growing health problem and a powerful predictor of cardiovascular and kidney disease later in life.
The inaugural 2026 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for the sub-Saharan Africa region place the North-West University (NWU) among the top seven institutions in the region.
North-West University (NWU) academic Prof Patrick Tchepmo Djomegni, Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics has added an important scholarly contribution to the field of applied mathematics with the completion of his new book on mathematical modelling techniques, a project that reflects both academic excellence and deep personal meaning.
The 2026 Varsity Cup will kick off with a highly competitive opening fixture, with previous seasons having delivered drama, late winners and high scores. On Monday 16 February, the FNB NWU Eagles will take on the CUT Ixias in Bloemfontein in a clash that has become a seasonal highlight.
The Eagles will face a determined CUT side eager to bounce back after their crushing 117-19 defeat at the Fanie du Toit Sports Grounds in Potchefstroom in 2025.
Soprano Thando Mabuza, an honours degree music student at the North-West University (NWU), has received a scholarship to further her studies at the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany, following her participation in the Vocal Masterclass and Scholarship Scheme with Martin Hundelt.
“When I received the news, I could not believe it, because during the masterclass everyone was so prepared,” said Thando. “I was excited, and I scared my family with my screams.”
The vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, is representing the university at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba, taking place from 9 to 12 February at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).