A new international study is shedding light on how future biology teachers from South Africa and Indonesia perceive the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom, and what they believe is needed to make it work effectively.

Dr Moleboheng Mokhele-Ramulumo, a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education and member of the Research Unit for Self-Directed Learning at the North-West University (NWU), led the comparative study. It focused on the perceived benefits of AI in biology education and teachers’ self-reported Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK).

The decision by the National Treasury not to increase value-added tax (VAT) on 1 May is the right one in the current circumstances.

Prof Raymond Parsons, economist from the North-West University (NWU) Business School, says after an intensive debate a rise in VAT was eventually seen to be unnecessary, and economically and politically it also failed to command wide support.

By Gofaone Motsamai

While the release of weevils into the hyacinth-infested waters of the Hartbeespoort Dam is a welcome development, these insects alone cannot be expected to permanently solve the dam’s pollution problem.

“The use of weevils must be part of an integrated plan to resolve the issue,” says Prof Wynand Malherbe from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Water Research Group in the Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management.

In a dynamic step towards bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world industry practice, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted an enriching guest lecture as part of the Operations Management (BMAN 213) module.

The bad news from the latest assessment by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the impact of trade wars and policy uncertainty on the world economy is not unexpected. It nonetheless highlights the extent of the economic damage anticipated by recent unbridled United States of America (US) protectionism and its wider consequences.

In a timely Pitso webinar hosted on Friday, 11 April, the North-West University (NWU) Business School featured distinguished panellists who discussed the vulnerable status of African economies caught in the crossfire of escalating international tariff wars. As countries on the continent compete for both economic sovereignty and competitive advantage, the discussion focused on how the economic power struggle between the US and China is changing trade landscapes throughout Africa.

The Faculty of Health Sciences values global learning experiences that shape well-rounded professionals. One of our master’s-degree nursing students, Zwothe Muthabeni, recently had the opportunity to participate in an international nursing internship in Belgium, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of cultural diversity and healthcare.

Dr Dolly Dlavane, director of the Centre for African Language Teaching (CALT) at North-West University (NWU), has been inaugurated for a second term as a board member of the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The official engagement recently took place at the Constitutional Court.

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) has granted a five-year extension to the SAMRC/NWU Extramural Unit (EMU) for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, effective from the beginning of April 2025. This decision follows a successful review process and highlights the crucial role of the unit in addressing the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in South Africa.

Bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world experience, the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted Mr Solly Segooa, chief risk officer at the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), for a thought-provoking guest lecture titled “Understanding and managing risk in entrepreneurship”.

The session offered students a unique opportunity to gain practical insight into the complexities of financial oversight, governance, and risk management in both public and private sectors.