This month the North-West University (NWU) welcomes first years and returning students to its campuses. While various forums have been put in place to improve student safety, especially that of female students, rolling electricity blackouts are likely to create an environment conducive to crime flourishing.

We are fortunate that the late Prof Marilyn Setlalentoa, who was the NWU deputy vice-chancellor for Community Engagement and Mahikeng Campus Operations, was passionate about dealing with issues of crime affecting students and their safety at this university.

Academic writing is key to academic success, but getting it right is not easy, particularly for students who are learning in a second or third language. This is where the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR) makes a difference.

SADiLar’s language development and testing node, the Inter-institutional Centre for Language Development and Assessment (ICELDA), has developed a series of videos, called Write It, to fill the gap by guiding students through writing.

So, the word is out, and after much anticipation, Dr Joseph Sekhampu was announced to be the new chief director of the Business School at the North-West University (NWU). But who is Joseph Sekhampu, and what is his vision for the school and for life in general? Who is the man in the golden seat and how does he operate workwise, life-wise and dream-wise?

It cannot be disputed that 2022 was an eventful year for news outlets. The invasion of Ukraine; a global rise in inflation; the death of prominent figures, not only in the entertainment industry, but also major international personalities such as Queen Elizabeth II; and the intensified effects of climate change, among other things, dominated the headlines as the world’s population crossed the milestone of 8 billion people.

It is hard to recall a time when there were as many economic and political cross-currents as there are for South Africa as it enters 2023. This is according to Prof Raymond Parsons, economist at the Business School of the North-West University (NWU).

The North-West University (NWU) is committed to bettering the lives of the communities that we serve, and we are proud of our investment in our local communities to aid in their health, prosperity and development. The NWU is a unitary institution that has campuses in Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark.

The North-West University (NWU) will not allow persons who did not qualify for admission, did not receive an offer to study at the NWU or who applied late to enter its campuses to enrol as so-called walk-ins during the registration period for first-year students in 2023.

The NWU has reached full capacity for its 2023 intake, with no extra places available. Close to 200 000 applications were received, of which only 11 662 could be accommodated in terms of our approved enrolment targets.

Water is an essential component of life on earth, and without it we cannot survive. However, the sad reality is that we take this resource for granted, and much more should be done to conserve it.

The North-West University (NWU) played its part by being the primary host of the 23rd WaterNet WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium that took place at Sun City from 19 to 21 October 2022.

These symposia have been held annually in the eastern and southern African regions for the past 22 years.

The North-West University (NWU) is at the cutting-edge of research that seeks to embed community engagement and contribute meaningfully to people’s lives locally, continentally, and globally.

Prof Jeffrey Mphahlele, deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation, is under no illusion about the intricacies involved in research and innovation, societal expectations of the importance of research, as well as governmental and multi-stakeholder views on the role of institutions of higher learning in this regard.

A new chief director has joined the Business School of the North-West University (NWU). Dr Joseph Sekhampu, an executive in private higher education, will take the reins on 17 January 2023.

Dr Sekhampu boasts managerial expertise that includes being executive head of commerce and management (from August 2022), chief operating officer (2019 to 2022) and dean of the School of Commerce (2014 to 2019) at Milpark Education, a South African private education institution in business education.