Our world is unrecognisable from that of just a few decades ago and great strides have been made to reduce disparities hampering global growth and prosperity. However, new challenges have arisen and we have yet to find answers to so many vexing questions. These include climate change, poverty and inequality, access to education, and environmental degradation with an alarming loss of biodiversity. These obstacles can sometimes seem insurmountable, but the North-West University (NWU) is geared towards bridging societal divides and tackling these challenges head-on.

Loop , a subsidiary of Lightstone , recognises the importance of investing in our students' future. The company recently donated laptops and laptop bags worth approximately R60 000 to four IT and computer sciences students at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

Jenique Botha, a 20-year-old North-West University (NWU) student, has been crowned Miss International South Africa 2023.

The research unit for Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight) recently organised a significant discourse in collaboration with the Legal Perspectives, Governance and Democracy research subarea and the Education Law subject group at the North-West University (NWU).

She is one of the tallest netball players in the country, but there seem to be no end to the heights Elmeré van den Berg can achieve on the netball court.

The 1,91m beanpole who hails from Bloemfontein, matriculated from Jim Fouché High School before joining the North-West University (NWU) where she is currently enrolled in a sports coaching and human movement sciences course.

She quickly made waves on the netball court – catching the eyes of national selectors – and greater accolades soon followed.

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.

Manketsi Emily Tlhape, former member of the executive committee (MEC) of North West and current member of the South African national parliament, received her PhD in economic management science with business administration from the North-West University (NWU) on 21 June 2023.

Manketsi's thesis, titled “Development of a strategic management framework for communal property associations in South Africa,” focused on the sustainability of communal property association enterprises.

Dr Henriette Hammill, a senior lecturer in biokinetics at the North-West University (NWU) was recently awarded second prize for her outstanding work at the International Federation of Physical and Sports Education (FIEPS) New Leader Congress held in Galati, Romania.

Sisikelelwe Mngenela, a second-year student pursuing a BA degree in music and society at the North-West University (NWU), has recently been granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the prestigious BelCantoBootCamp (BCBC).

By Menziwa Msibi

Music plays an important role in early childhood development. It enhances cognitive abilities, support language development, promotes social and motor skills and nurture creativity and imagination, among others.

This is why the NWU recently hosted a workshop for practitioners from various Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in the North West province and in the Sedibeng East area.