The Student RAG Community Service (SRCS) is a community engagement initiative of the North-West University (NWU) based on the Potchefstroom Campus and is the largest student-driven community engagement initiative in the southern hemisphere. It is a unique NWU tradition that you will find in few other places. This tradition encapsulates the spirit of the NWU’s students: a commitment to their community and the determination to ensure a better life for those the university serve.

It was a long time coming, but on Wednesday, 19 July, Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, officially recognised South African Sign Language as South Africa’s 12th official language.

This makes South Africa only the fourth country in Africa to recognise sign language as an official language and, according to Dr Keaobaka Seshoka, director of the Language Directorate at the North-West University (NWU), it is a belated but very welcome addition to the country’s official language family.

You don’t have to be able to split the atom to know that South Africa – and the world – is facing an energy crisis and that urgent answers are needed to address this pressing problem.

That is why the principal and vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Bismark Tyobeka, will be part of a panel discussion titled Global Nuclear Power – Implications for South Africa’s Just Energy Transition.

Women's Month is the ideal opportunity to reflect on the tremendous strides made by women in education and celebrate an intergenerational legacy of academic achievements. What an honour it is to share the inspiring journeys of four generations of female graduates, with three holding master’s degrees. These stories testify to the power of education, the importance of the empowerment of women and the significant impact women can have on future generations.

Hosted from 24 to 28 July at The Roots Lifestyle Centre in Potchefstroom, the MBA Winter Study School of the North-West University (NWU) Business School proved to be an enriching and transformative experience for all involved. The week kicked off with an array of insightful guest speakers, leaving the attendees both inspired and enlightened.

The North-West University (NWU) has secured fourth place in the Sustainable Development Goals Initiative of the Year category of the 2023 Global Triple E Awards for Africa.
These awards – made by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) – recognise universities worldwide that exhibit an exceptional commitment to entrepreneurship and community engagement in higher education.

This well-deserved recognition is thanks to the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management (UESM’s) endeavours in their Smallholder Farmer Development Initiative.

The North-West University (NWU) hosted its inaugural Vice-Chancellor’s Science Day on 31 July 2023 at Mabeskraal near Rustenburg as part of National Science Week.

This landmark event served as a platform for fostering partnerships and collaboration among educational institutions, government departments, private companies, communities, and other stakeholders in the North West province.

A key United Nations agency has shown its confidence in the North-West University (NWU) by relaunching the Chair on Multimodal Learning and Open Educational Resources for a second term of four years.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approved the NWU’s submission for a renewal of the chair, which was initially awarded to the university in 2019. The chair was relaunched in June.

By Sandile Mahlangu

The North-West University (NWU) annually celebrates Facing Race Week during the third week of July.

Facing Race Week is usually celebrated to help create a learning opportunity and promote awareness about the diversity of the university and how all individuals can co-exist with one another. The Potchefstroom Campus students participated by hosting a three-day campaign from 17 to 19 July during which they informed, educated, and engaged with one another.

The Nedbank Capital Expenditure Project Listing, which shows a dramatic decline in fixed investment activity in the first half of 2023, flashes a strong red light about future investment and growth trends in the South African economy.

This is as persistent power outages, rising interest rates and cost pressures weigh on profitability and erode business confidence.