What happens when students begin to wonder if universities are still necessary? This was one of the questions posed by the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Prof Anné Verhoef during a talk for postgraduate students on artificial intelligence (AI).

“AI is changing everything,” said Prof Verhoef, director of the NWU AI Hub and a professor of philosophy. “It is not just about technology. It forces us to ask what makes us human and what skills will matter in the future.”

The North-West University (NWU) delegation’s visit to the Universidad Tecnológica del Perú (UTP) on 17 June began with a warm and culturally rich welcome that set the tone for an inspiring day of academic exchange and collaboration.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have become essential to modern business operations, marking a significant shift in the corporate responsibility landscape. In South Africa, this transition brings with it unique challenges and opportunities, particularly for corporations that are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

Prof Neels Kilian from the Finance, Trade and Innovation (FTI) research group at the Faculty of Law has dedicated his work to understanding and addressing the legal challenges surrounding the application of ESG principles.

North-West University (NWU) is playing an important role in the newly launched Palladium Global Science Award, a major international initiative recognizing research in advanced palladium-based materials. With a substantial prize fund of $350,000, the award supports innovation in one of the most critical fields of materials science.

Professor Dmitri Bessarabov of NWU has been appointed to the international jury, joining a panel of renowned scientists tasked with evaluating submissions from researchers, startups and academic teams worldwide.

In a landmark step toward deepening legal education, community engagement, and access to justice, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Law has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman (CGSO). The signing ceremony took place on 11 June 2025, marking the formalisation of a collaboration that has been evolving since 2022.

On 10 June 2025, Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), arrived in Curitiba, Brazil, alongside a delegation of senior academic staff to formalise a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NWU and the Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR).

The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in research, staff development, and the exploration of new academic fields, while also advancing initiatives related to student and staff exchange programmes.

The annual Beer and Cheese Day, hosted by the School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the North-West University (NWU), is more than just a social gathering – it is a way to ignite the students’ creativity and entrepreneurial spirits.

The School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU) successfully hosted the first ever Global People Practices Conference (GPPC).

This marked a significant step towards fostering critical discourse, academic collaboration and innovation in human resource management, industrial psychology, labour relations management and human resource development.

A lively panel of experts provided a critical analysis of Minister Enoch Godongwana's Budget address during the Pitso 2025.4 discussion of the North-West University (NWU) Business School. These experts advocated for significant changes to the way South Africa creates and oversees its national budget, calling for transparency and accountability in policymaking.

The discussion was moderated by columnist Khaya Sithole, and the other speakers were political scientist Prince Mashele and economist Prof Jannie Rossouw from the University of the Witwatersrand.

The academic workplace is no longer defined by shared offices and hallway conversations. As hybrid work becomes the norm, one researcher argues that the shift may be eroding the very ties that keep academic communities functioning.

“Academics are often isolated in their work, and hybrid work has amplified that,” said Dr Rudo Rachel Marozva, a recent NWU PhD graduate, whose new study examined how reduced in-person contact weakened social infrastructure in universities. “Even though we meet online, something gets lost. It’s harder to feel part of a team.”