During a visit to Australia, a delegation from the North-West University (NWU) held a series of engagements with The University of Western Australia (UWA) on 18 November 2025, opening discussions on collaboration in research, teaching and learning, and student and staff mobility.

The visit to UWA – the first by a South African university – aligns with the NWU’s strategy of developing long-term international partnerships across key academic disciplines.

The North-West University (NWU) continues to build on its reputation as an innovative, globally engaged institution committed to excellence and societal relevance. This commitment is driven by its strategy, Taking the NWU forward: 2024 and beyond. This is once again affirmed in the latest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Sustainability Ranking, which highlights our growing impact in addressing critical environmental, social and governance priorities aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

The widely expected decision by Standard & Poor’s to upgrade South Africa’s investment rating for the first time in nearly two decades is welcome news for the economy.

Prof. Raymond Parsons, economist from the NWU Business School, in commenting on the decision by global agency Standard & Poor’s to upgrade South Africa’s credit rating, says it recognises the extent to which certain recent positive economic developments have improved South Africa’s fiscal position and growth outlook, which has strengthened investment sentiment.

Community engagement is not just a programme. It is a partnership, a shared journey, and a commitment to listen, understand, and grow together,” said Prof Awie Kotze, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the North-West University (NWU).

The Optentia Research Unit at the North-West University (NWU) has officially launched two innovative hybrid short courses designed to build mentoring capacity and strengthen professional development among university support staff. These short courses, which were developed and presented in collaboration with People and Culture at the NWU, follows the implementation of two short courses for academics, namely Being a Successful Academic Mentor and Being a Successful Academic Mentee.

The second annual Industry Summit of the School of Communication brought together nearly 600 students across the North-West University (NWU) campuses in October 2025, marking a significant milestone in Prof Lida Holtzhausen's vision to connect communication students directly with industry leaders.

By Gofaone Motsamai

When water gushes from a rural borehole, many see purity, but beneath that clear stream could lie invisible fungal organisms capable of causing serious infections. To protect public health, South Africa should introduce inclusive microbial monitoring, according to a North-West University (NWU) study.

Recognising prior learning in indigenous knowledge (IK) will ensure that people and communities who have preserved traditional knowledge for generations are included in South Africa’s national innovation agenda.

This is the intention of the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), which in partnership with the North-West University (NWU) and several other universities, is facilitating the development of norms and standards for IK as a discipline.

After long days of teaching English in South Korea, Marcel van der Westhuizen would often find himself pondering the biggest questions imaginable: How will the universe ultimately end? His persistence and curiosity have now paid off.