In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, the need for strong, adaptable and visionary leadership has never been more crucial. This very theme, "Future Leaders: Embracing Change and Innovating Tomorrow" – set the stage for the second North-West University (NWU) Student Leadership Summit, held from 26 to 27 September at the picturesque ANEW Hunters Rest Lodge in Rustenburg. The summit aimed to equip student leaders with the tools and mindset necessary to navigate the complexities of modern leadership while fostering innovation and positive transformation.

By Karen van den Berg, Senior Psychologist at SCD

It’s exam time, and with that comes a lot of stress and anxiety. Although stress can often be good for you and act as a motivator, anxiety is the dark side of stress and can have a negative impact on how we function.

Investing in transport infrastructure is critical to South Africa’s post-pandemic economic recovery. This is according to Dr Alexander Samuels from the North-West University’s (NWU) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. By modernising highways, ports, railways and airports, the country can enhance supply chain efficiency, attract foreign investment, and stimulate job creation, all while positioning itself more competitively in global markets.

“Tito Mboweni was a formidable leader, with deep economic insights that greatly shaped South Africa’s post-apartheid policies and structures, such as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), labour law and Nedlac.”

Reacting to the death of former Finance Minister and SARB Governor Tito Mboweni, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says he was saddened to hear of his unexpected passing over the weekend and sends his condolences to his family.

• The Programme for Forensic Accountancy at the North-West University (NWU) has the biggest group of forensic experts in South Africa who work in the programme full-time.

• The Programme for Forensic Accountancy at the NWU is one of a kind.

• The programme is vital in curbing fraud and corruption.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to affirm its commitment to advancing community engagement through innovative research methodologies.

This commitment was recently exemplified at the African Centre for Training in Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Knowledge for Change (K4C) at Gulu University in Uganda.

• Increasing the air access capacity to South Africa remains a critical aspect of the tourism agenda.

• The tourism industry faces transport challenges such as public transport coverage in rural and remote areas, public transport security concerns and limited railway services.

• The Kruger National Park Airport is an excellent example of how to spread tourists to more remote areas.

Researchers across the faculties at the NWU continue to produce exciting work in their fields of expertise.

We introduce the work of two researchers - Prof Muchativugwa Liberty Hove, deputy director of the School of Language in Education, and Dr Wihan Pheiffer, senior lecturer at the DSI/NWU Preclinical Drug Development Platform (PCDDP).Tumi Ledwaba, a lecturer in History, and Prof Tycho Maas, extraordinary researcher in the School for Ancient Language and Text Studies.

The School of Communication at the North-West University (NWU) hosted an in-person and hybrid Communication Industry Summit on Wednesday, 2 October for students enrolled on all three campuses.

During the summit, industry and academia came together to explore the theme “From Clicks to Connection” to drive the future of communication. Students gained invaluable insight into the world of work and learned about the current careers and challenges in communication while interacting with industry experts and leading recruitment agencies.

Founded in 2004, Engenius Kids is a student-run programme at the North-West University (NWU), dedicated to inspiring Grade 9 learners, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds in townships, to pursue their education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

“Our mission is to cultivate future innovators and leaders in South Africa by providing exposure, education and encouragement in STEM fields,” says Nadin Talip, programme manager for Marketing and Media at Engenius Kids.