The North-West University (NWU) recently took part in the kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+-funded project, SacredTravels4Growth – Higher Education and Sustainable Growth through Religious Tourism - at the LOGOS University College in Tirana, Albania.

The project is co-funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2 call and seeks to strengthen higher education capacity through innovative teaching of and research on religious tourism. Its broader goal is to contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in participating regions.

By Gosego Phutieagae and Mafumane Tlhapi

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education hosted a special celebration to honour its most productive researchers and dedicated community engagement practitioners.

The event recognised excellence across a range of areas, including research publications, postgraduate supervision, the securing of external funding and meaningful community-based projects.

South Africa’s celebrated matric pass rates do not reflect the reality of a “leaking pipeline” that serves neither the country’s ailing economy nor the future prospects of matriculants.

At the centre of this dilemma is what might be called a pass-rate hostage crisis. Schools, under pressure to maintain high headline results, increasingly steer weaker learners away from gateway subjects, most notably Mathematics, to protect their overall performance figures.

The North-West University (NWU) conveys its deepest condolences to the families, teachers, classmates, and the basic education community affected by the recent scholar transport accident in Vanderbijlpark. This tragic event has robbed our country of potential and promise - innocent young lives cut short and dreams permanently shattered. 

The North-West University (NWU) has become the first South African university to adopt an official artificial intelligence (AI) policy. The NWU Council approved the policy at its most recent meeting, further cementing the university’s position as a leader in artificial intelligence in the higher education sector.

The North-West University (NWU) congratulates matriculants who have passed their 2025 examinations. Well done and best wishes. You are now at a very crucial stage of your life that requires you to make decisions about your career(s). We look forward to welcoming successful applicants who have chosen to advance their careers at the NWU. 

A milestone reached on World AIDS Day has focused new attention on how faith communities influence South Africa’s response to HIV. On 1 December 2025, a PhD study focusing on HIV stigma in religious settings was formally completed when the degree was awarded, marking the completion of research that examined a long-standing barrier to treatment.

When communities across Africa face droughts, floods, and shifting climates, the solutions often begin in the minds of innovators, researchers, and leaders who are committed to a more sustainable future. In March 2026, these changemakers will gather at the Protea Hotel in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, for the International Conference on Green and Sustainable Development (ICGSD) 2026.

North-West University (NWU) student Chrismarie Grundlingh has been selected as one of the “10 of the Finest” GradStar achievers for 2025, placing her among the country’s top emerging leaders recognised for workplace readiness and leadership potential.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Two postgraduate students from the North-West University (NWU) were awarded top honours at the national Virtualise Your Thesis (VYT) Competition.

Christa Matlou from the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and Makatu Mashanyu from the Faculty of Engineering represented the NWU at the competition held on 7 November 2025 at the University of Johannesburg.