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?

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.

Three students from the North-West University’s Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences received awards for their outstanding presentations and posters during this year’s symposium of the WaterNet/Water Research Fund for Southern Africa (WARFSA)/Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWP-SA).

Recent graduate Dr Luvhimba Tlhoaele and PhD students Keaobaka Precious Mahoko and Lawrence Sawunyama were honoured with awards during the event that took place in Maseru, Lesotho from 30 October to 1 November.

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.

Given the fine budgetary line that still had to be walked by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, the first Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) of the Government of National Unity (GNU) comes across as a pragmatic, realistic and credible strategy to tackle South Africa’s challenges of low economic growth and high public debt again.

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) ongoing commitment to sustainable energy through its trail-blazing solar projects across its campuses has earned it the Renewable Energy Initiative Award from the Higher Education Facility Management Association of Southern Africa (HEFMA) on 17 October.

The North-West University’s (NWU) two Olympic superstars, Bradley Nkoana and Jo-Ané van Dyk, were back on the podium when they were presented with top sporting awards at NWU’s Potchefstroom Campus.

These two remarkable athletes are both the pride of the nation and the NWU after both bagged silver at the Olympic Games in Paris, France earlier this year. Jo-Ané won silver in the javelin at the Olympics, gold at the All-African Games in Ghana, gold at the African Championships in Cameroon and set a personal best of 64,22 m in the Olympic qualifying rounds.

International Dictionary Day was commemorated in style on Wednesday, 16 October at the North-West University (NWU) Potchefstroom Campus in a stunning exhibition of heritage, history and language.

The North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, together with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), Sefala Kgobokgobo, and the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), hosted the event.

In advance of the of the celebration of International Dictionary Day, the North West Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation, in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB), organised a Lexicography Awareness campaign on Tuesday, 15 October.

The Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark campuses of the North-West University (NWU) held their 2024 final-years’ functions on Wednesday, 10 October, creating a festive feeling among the students.

At the events, around 1 300 students from the Potchefstroom Campus and 700 students from the Vanderbijlpark Campus gathered to take pictures and videos, reflecting on their experiences at the university. With loads of fun and good company in order, the events also served as platforms for students to bid farewell to their peers.