“No job, no food, please help.” These words on makeshift cardboard signs can be seen at every street corner on any given day in South Africa. With an unemployment rate of 26,7% in the first quarter of 2018, it comes as no surprise that South Africa is one of 20 nations with the highest unemployment figures in the world.

With populations expanding in many parts of the world and rapid urbanisation straining countries’ resources, the need for food and food security has never been so great. While this has created enormous opportunities for farmers in many parts of the world, including South Africa, our agricultural sector is facing significant challenges – not least of which is the uncertainty surrounding land reform in the country and encroaching climate change, which is affecting annual yields and the growth potential of the sector.

The most important asset for any company is not something palpable. It is not equipment, infrastructure, data or even intellectual property. No. The most valuable asset of any business is the people (human capital).

BRICS* countries delegates recently witnessed what the NWU is accomplishing in the field of research and innovation when they attended an exhibition of thirteen of the university’s top of the range technologies.

 “Social scientists hold the key to imagining and realising an alternative future, not only for South Africa but for the world. Through social sciences we are offered the opportunity to open up debate, to collaborate and ultimately shape our collective future.”

The North-West University (NWU) is proud to have two of its student leaders on the South African Union of Students (SAUS). They were elected at the SAUS conference that recently took place in Potchefstroom.

Scuba diving at high-latitude marine localities such as Southern Africa and the Mediterranean Sea has significant tourism potential. Tapping into this necessitates a strong focus on sustainable diving tourism, and this is an area where the North-West University (NWU) has been making a substantial contribution for the past four years.

Dr Moshweu Mampe, an academic from the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Faculty of Education, recently conducted research on factors that impede learning support and the availability of support structures for learners with language barriers to learning, especially at primary school level.

The North-West University (NWU) is proving that it is more than just a rugby force in the 15-man code. Six NWU players – the most from any university - were included in the South African Sevens squad that will compete in the SISU World University Rugby Sevens Championship in Swakopmund, Namibia.

Another player from the North-West University (NWU) Soccer Institute, Cameron Chweu, recently signed with a National First Division team.