By: Mafumane Tlhapi & Keaoleboga Motshabi

The North-West University (NWU) turned into a hub of business ideas and exchanges as it hosted the Youth Entrepreneurship Tour (YET) of the Youth African Entrepreneurs Institute (YAEI) on 24 and 25 April 2025.

The two-day event, held in collaboration with the Amalgamated Banks of South Africa (Absa) and Strategic National Stakeholders (SNS), gave young entrepreneurs a stage to pitch business ideas, receive expert feedback and explore pathways to funding.

Newsrooms don’t look like they used to. Long gone are the days of smoke spiralling from ashtrays in crowded newsrooms, journalists furiously hammering away at keyboards and the sweet smell of drying ink as papers stream from rolling printing presses. It is a romantic, nostalgic image, one irrevocably changed by the digital age. But none of the magic of this essential profession is gone.

North-West University (NWU) graduate Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has been named the 2024 Spokesperson of the Year by the National Press Club, recognising her work in national police communication during a year of major public events.

“It is the power of a girl with a book that is the best weapon for progress ... Because with educated women comes prosperity.”- Deborah Rodriguez.

The North-West University (NWU) has officially joined the growing national STEM MentHER initiative, a mentorship-driven programme aimed at empowering young women to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Whatever shape the future takes, robotics and coding are likely to be part of it. Fifty primary school learners from the Mahikeng area had the opportunity to learn basic coding and robotic skills during a training programme at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus from 22 to 24 April.

The group of Grade 6 and 7 learners and two educators from DP Kgotlheng Primary School spent three days at the Science Centre of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) will host a public lecture on 8 May 2025, exploring the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of humanities education in higher education institutions.

The event, to be held at the Mmabatho Palms Hotel and streamed online, will also mark the official launch of the university’s new Centre for Teaching Excellence.

The North-West University (NWU) and the North West provincial government (NWP) are joining forces to address problems in the province. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 29 April that will enable cooperation on a host of pressing challenges.

A Centre for Diversity and Identity is being established at the North-West University (NWU), which is building academic pipelines for women and people with disabilities and stepping up efforts to support economic equity and inclusion.

These developments were highlighted during the stakeholder consultation session of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group for the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District Municipality, which took place at the Potchefstroom Campus on 24 April.

The Faculty of Humanities at the North-West University (NWU) recently reaffirmed its dedication to societal transformation during a seminar that explored the vital relationship between academic engagement and real-world impact.

The decision by the National Treasury not to increase value-added tax (VAT) on 1 May is the right one in the current circumstances.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says after an intensive debate a rise in VAT was eventually seen to be unnecessary, and economically and politically it also failed to command wide support.