On 4 November 2024, the North-West University (NWU) celebrated a momentous occasion – the 50th birthday of its principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka. This milestone coincided with the university’s 20th anniversary, creating a unique and symbolic double celebration. For Prof. Tyobeka, it was a day that not only marked his personal journey but also reflected the growth and transformation of the institution he has helped shape.

In South Africa, a country still shadowed by the legacies of the past and grappling with complex social and economic challenges, the Population and Health Research Entity at the North-West University (NWU) offers a striking vision of hope. Nestled within the Faculty of Humanities on the Mahikeng Campus, this research entity has grown into a research powerhouse since it was founded in 2007.

In a series of ceremonies held across all three North-West University (NWU) campuses, the People and Culture Department recently celebrated colleagues who completed the 12-month End-User Computing learnership. Marking an important milestone in professional growth, these events showcased NWU's commitment to digital empowerment and continuous learning.

In an exciting accomplishment, the North-West University (NWU) has received global recognition for its excellence in online and technology-enhanced education through the prestigious 2023-2024 International Benchmarking Report. This remarkable achievement not only highlights the NWU's high standards but also sets a new bar for digital education worldwide, particularly in safeguarding personal data.

What is the International Benchmarking Initiative?

The pivotal and definitive outcome of the historic United States (US) elections for control of the White House and the Congress has wide-ranging implications for the US economy and for the rest of the world.

In commenting on the outcome of the crucial 2024 US elections, Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School says the American electorate has spoken.

Through shared access to advanced cyber infrastructure, South African universities and research and innovation agencies would be in a position to contribute exponentially to the country’s scientific, economic and industrial development. This is the aim of the National Integrated Cyber Infrastructure System (NICIS), which is spearheading efforts in South Africa to develop world-class cyber infrastructure that is locally and globally connected.

It has happened. The world is 1,5 degrees Celsius warmer than it was in preindustrial times. A threshold has been breached, and the times they are a-changin’.

When Prof Francois Engelbrecht, president of the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences (SASAS), opened the 38th Annual Conference of the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University (NWU), he did so in a sombre tone, even with a sense of disbelief. Because history has been made for the wrong reasons.

The Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) team from the North-West University (NWU) participated in the prestigious Cape Town Tech Transfer Week from 23 to 25 October 2024. The event was held at the Graduate School of Business Conference Centre at the University of Cape Town.

On Tuesday 5 November, Americans will cast their votes to elect the 47th president of the United States of America. The latest polls show that the current vice president and Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, has a slight, one point lead, with Republican and former president, Donald Trump, a very close second. This is a neck and neck race with no certain outcome, and the world waits to see who will lead the last global superpower from 2025 to 2029.

In an outstanding achievement, two students from the North-West University (NWU) claimed victory for the second consecutive year in a national telecommunications industry competition.

Karabo Makau, a third-year BCom information systems student, and Ferdi Steyn, a BSc honours student in computer science, won first place in the 2024 Industry Solutions Challenge of the South African Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC).