Imagine for a moment that you are standing in a long hallway. On either side of you there are numerous open doors. As you make your way to the exit, each one of these doors close once you walk past them. These doors signify development opportunities, and the hallway represents your journey from early childhood through the various stages of adolescence. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to look back and know that you stepped through each of those doors?

By Mafumane Tlhapi and Phenyo Mokgothu

The North-West University (NWU) mourns the passing of Mme Grace Masuku, an expert in indigenous knowledge systems. She was honoured with the NWU Chancellor Award in 2013.

Nkoko Grace Masuku was laid to rest on 18 June 2023, in her village of Lekutung near Moruleng in Rustenburg, North West. The 91-year-old indigenous knowledge holder and practitioner, a former principal and respected elder of the Bakgatla baa Kgafela Royal family, passed away on 12 June 2023.

The Student Campus Council (SCC) on the North-West University's (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus, in conjunction with the Community Stakeholder Engagement (CSE) Council, launched a Soup Drive to help students to cope during the exams and to remain nourished and healthy amidst loadshedding and economic pressures.

The SCC launched the initiative under the slogan "We are the SCC that cares". Sponsored by Student Life and the Finance Department, the drive will continue until the end of exams.

Thus far the Soup Drive has already served more than 400 students.

In anticipation of Mandela Day, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus recently launched a "Hang a Hug" drive.

The idea is to encourage staff and students to donate jackets and blankets and hanging them on designated trees around the campus for those in need to use during the cold winter months.

Launched by the Student Campus Council (SCC) and Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations, the idea was inspired by an initiative called “Baadjies aan bome”, which translates to "Jackets on trees".

As time passes, words are watered down and phrases lose their meaning. Wisdom passes into obscurity as repetition creates clichés. This is where we are now. Do we still listen when we hear “youth” and “future”? The North-West University (NWU) believes that these two words – together – should not only feature prominently in every vocabulary, but when spoken, they should be heard.

According to Professor Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, this is seldom as important as when Youth Day is celebrated.

The quest for more sustainable and greener coal energy is receiving a boost through the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) renewal of the Chair for Coal Research at the North-West University (NWU).

The chair has secured funding of R4,15 million per year for the next five years as part of the NRF’s South African Research Chairs initiative (SARChI). This adds up to more than R20 million over the full period.

Parasites. Just uttering the word may send shivers down the spine, conjuring up images of rapidly proliferating organisms devouring or destroying other species. A celebrated researcher from the North-West University (NWU) hopes to change those perceptions.

Credited with playing a crucial role in global conservation efforts to protect parasites, Prof Nico Smit is from the NWU’s Water Research Group in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. He aims to ensure that some of the parasites found on endangered species do not end up like their hosts – facing extinction.

The Technology Transfer and Innovation Support (TTIS) Office of the North-West University (NWU) is leading the charge in ensuring that innovation remains at the forefront of its activities and across all spheres of the institution.

Bush encroachment is a global challenge, but through the multi-million rand RIBS project, this major contributor to land degradation is being tackled with renewed vigour.

RIBS is an acronym for “Rangeland Improvement through Bush Control and Sustainable Intensification to mitigate Climate Change and improve Livelihoods and Food Security in Southern Africa”.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Germany, through the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL 2.0) programme.

They did it again! Tete Dijana and Adele Broodryk are on top of the ultramarathon world after both athletes delivered superlative Comrades 2023 performances.

Dijana won the men’s division in a record time of 5:14.01, which is the second consecutive win for the employee of Mi7, an external security service provider to the NWU, who can be found on the Mahikeng Campus when on duty.