Mental health in the healthcare system is beginning to receive the attention it deserves. Prof Leepile Sehularo, a professor of psychiatry and mental health nursing at the North-West University (NWU), has been nominated for the Nurse Researcher Award at the South African Nursing Council (SANC) Nursing Excellence Awards.

The SANC is an independent regulatory body that oversees standards in nursing education and practice throughout South Africa. It was established by the Nursing Act of 1944 and now operates under the Nursing Act of 2005.

In an outstanding achievement, two students from the North-West University (NWU) claimed victory for the second consecutive year in a national telecommunications industry competition.

Karabo Makau, a third-year BCom information systems student, and Ferdi Steyn, a BSc honours student in computer science, won first place in the 2024 Industry Solutions Challenge of the South African Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC).

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.

Seeking to reinvigorate partnerships with universities and explore collaborative opportunities with students, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) visited the Mahikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) on 30 October 2024.

“This is not a one-time event; we plan to hold similar outreach programmes more frequently in the future,” said Mr Rowan Walter, the Divisional Head of SARB’s Modelling Development within its Economic Research Department.

Nico Kroucamp, a senior IT technician at North-West University (NWU) and an accomplished sailor, has had an unforgettable season, making his mark in competitive sailing with one remarkable success after another. Earlier this year, from August 9 to 11, Nico and his team achieved an impressive second-place finish at the J22 Keelboat Nationals, a challenging three-day event filled with top-tier competitors and unpredictable conditions. This outstanding performance was just the beginning of an even greater journey.

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 Faculty of Law at the North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the University of Fort Hare (UFH), hosted the Justice Yvonne Mokgoro Colloquium on 24 and 25 October 2024 in Mahikeng.

This event saw judges, legal scholars and human rights advocates gathering to remember the late Justice Yvonne Mokgoro’s legacy and discuss the role of Ubuntu in shaping South African law and justice.

Pastor Gugu Ndlovu, a student pursuing a PhD in theology with pastoral studies at the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) and a dedicated full-time pastor at Mount Olives Ministries, recently won the prestigious national Visualise Your Thesis Competition.

She is now through to the international Visualise Your Thesis Competition with her thesis titled “Experiences of premarital counselling among African Christians in South Africa”.

He was of a different ilk. His immense literary stature cast a shadow under which so many South Africans found solace and comfort. Now, it is with sadness but also gratitude for the many contributions he made both culturally and academically, that the North-West University (NWU) has to say farewell to Prof Hans du Plessis, who passed away on Friday 24 October at the age of 79. 

Prof Hans was a beloved NWU faculty member since his appointment in 1981 as a professor in Afrikaans at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.

The Centre for Applied Risk Management (UARM) at the North-West University (NWU) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its master’s-degree programme in behavioural risk work.

The theme, "Celebrating 10 years of excellence in applied risk management", was inspired by the programme’s pioneering role in offering an applied risk management course in South Africa. At the time it was introduced, only two other universities abroad offered a similar course, making the NWU's initiative a significant milestone in the region.