By Gosego Phutieagae

When final-year social work students at the North-West University (NWU) gathered for their annual conference, their message was clear: transformation begins with small acts of service.

The subject group Social Work hosted the event to showcase how students have translated classroom theory into real-world community engagement, demonstrating their readiness to serve as ethical and responsive professionals.

By Mzwandile Ndlovu

Three minutes and not a second more – that was the amount of time postgraduate students had to present their master’s or doctoral research in the Three Minute Thesis competition (3MT) that recently took place the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus.

By Gosego Phutieagae

Visiting some of the world’s most famous justice system landmarks is high on the itinerary of Thabang Mnculwane, a North-West University (NWU) Faculty of Law student, who is spending five months in Amsterdam on an academic exchange programme.

Mnculwane, a final-year LLB student, started his exchange programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) in August 2025 and will return to South Africa in January 2026.

By Gosego Phutieagae

A North-West University (NWU) law student has claimed top honours at the 2025 Martin Luther King Spoken Word Competition held on 9 October at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam.

Thabang Mnculwane, an LLB student currently participating in the NWU Faculty of Law Academic Exchange Programme in Amsterdam, won the contest hosted by VU’s Faculty of Law as part of the annual Martin Luther King Lecture series.

“At NWU Sport, our passion is sport, and we are privileged to make our passion our work.” 

These were the words of Mervyn Taylor, manager of the NWU Rugby Institute, as he concluded the North-West University (NWU) Sports Awards on 21 October. His statement captured the spirit of an evening that celebrated commitment, teamwork and excellence across all sporting codes at the university. 

By Gofaone Motsamai and Phenyo Mokgothu

In the scientific field, learning theory and doing practical work at university provides a foundation for aspiring scientists, but developing real-world skills is what prepares students for professional environments.

With youth unemployment continuing to challenge South Africa’s future, the North-West University (NWU) is showing that entrepreneurship is key to turning the tide. Through its bhive Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), the NWU hosted Student Entrepreneurship Week (SEW) 2025 from 29 September to 3 October across all three campuses.

Under the theme “Dream it. Build it. Live it.”, the week reminded students that they have the power to be job creators, not just job seekers.

Two North-West University (NWU) football players were recognised for their performance in the 2025 Varsity Football tournament, taking home major individual honours and contributing significantly to the team’s competitive campaign.

Goalkeeper Ethan Mokwena won the Cashbuild Golden Glove award and the official Goalkeeper of the Tournament prize, which included a trophy and a monetary reward. Team captain Aphelele Sibisi was named FNB Player of the Tournament, receiving a R10 000 prize.

The Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a prestigious Golden Key International Honour Society New Member Recognition Ceremony at Tsebonokeng Hall, welcoming a new group of high-achieving students into the global network of scholars.

The event honoured the top 15% of students at the NWU who have excelled academically and demonstrated leadership potential. Golden Key, the world’s largest international collegiate honour society, provides members with access to scholarships, international opportunities and community service initiatives.