Community research is undergoing a major shift in South Africa, and the North-West University (NWU) is at the forefront of the changes. Where previously the emphasis was on working on philanthropic projects in communities, community research now uses scientifically based methods to tackle critical community challenges.

“If you have to put someone on a pedestal, put teachers. They are society’s heroes.” With these words by American author Guy Kawasaki in mind, the Alumni Office of the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Vanderbijlpark hosted its first get-together for educators earlier in the year.

Former Protea star and North-West University (NWU) stalwart, Elsunet du Plessis, has been appointed as the new NWU netball coach starting on 1 January 2018. Elsunet takes over the Potchefstroom-based team’s reins from Dorette Badenhorst.

World Rugby has announced that South Africa is their preferred choice to host the IRB 2023 Rugby World Cup. South Africa beat France as well as Ireland, and although an official vote will take place on 15 November, the independent World Rugby’s recommendation – a body comprised of rugby experts, business and commercial analysts – should hold true.

An inaugural lecture is an once-in-a-lifetime experience for an academic, but at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Health Sciences, five of these unique events have taken place in the space of just five months.

The Faculty of Law on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is hosting an international symposium on The International Human Right to a Nationality, the Prevention of Statelessness and the Protection of Stateless Individuals in the 21st Century from 31 October until 2 November 2017.

Prof Rodney Medupe, an astrophysicist and professor on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) campus in Mahikeng, was recently selected and inaugurated as a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences again took top honours at this year’s Excellence in Research Awards on 27 October. The faculty won the titles of Most Productive Senior Researcher and Most Productive Junior Researcher, just as they did last year.

The North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a climate change public lecture on its campus in Potchefstroom.

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His plan of action? To actively take part in impactful discussions, to make the most of every opportunity that comes his way, to be involved in his community, and above all, to never stop acquiring new knowledge.